Mobi to expand iBurst access to nearly three-quarters of population

Friday, Mar 06, 2009

Cedarcom has announced the launch of a project to expand its wireless broadband service Mobi across major cities in Mount Lebanon, Keserwen, Northern, Southern and Bekaa valley regions, with work to be concluded in three months. A total of 40 additional cities and towns will be reached under the plan, taking network coverage to around three million (73%) of the 4.1 million population. Imad Tarabay, CEO of Cedarcom, claimed that upon finishing the project, ‘We will have blanket coverage in the Greater Beirut area while tripling the network capacity.’ Mobi claims to be the first true mobile broadband network in Lebanon, whilst Cedarcom also this week announced the launch of a Mobi branded USB dongle.According to TeleGeography's GlobalComms database, the Mobi network, based on iBurst wireless technology, was launched in December 2006, and by January 2009 had reached over 70 locations.

Mobi’s expansion plan covers the Mount Lebanon cities of Baabda, Chouifat, Dohat Aaramoun, Ain Saade, Mansourieh, Hazmieh, Baakleen, Deir el Kamar, Alay, Bhamdon, Hammana, Saoufar, Bekfaya, Baabdat; Keserwen cities of Aajaltoun, Zouk Mosbeh, Balloune, Aachkout, Ghazir/Aaramoun and surroundings; Southern cities of Nakoura, Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil, Jizeen, Chhim and their environs; Northern cities of Ehden, Zghorta, Batroun, Amsheet, Amioun el Koura, Tripoli and their surrounds; and the Bekaa valley cities of Baalbek, Zahle, Shtoura and surrounding areas.