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Touch Now Offers Residential Data Plans at Discounted Prices

By on October 26, 2018 in Telecom

Remember how bad was my internet at home? Well it never changed (thank you Ogero), so I eventually switched to using data plans by Touch and Alfa over a 3G router I have and was paying up to ~$100 depending on my usage.

However last week I noticed that touch now has residential internet plans at the following rates:

  • 25GB for $35
  • 50GB for $59
  • 100GB for $109
  • 150GB for $159
  • 250GB for $200

You can check the offers here. Prices are not inclusive of VAT and are definitely better than what you pay for mobile plans (20GB at $46 for example), and they’re of course more expensive than what you get from ISPs but it’s not really fair to compare a mobile operator to an ISP.

The only drawback though is that it seems to be compatible with Touch 4G/4.5G routers only wich cost between $70 and $135, whereas I would have preferred to be given the ability to use my own router. Moreover, I wish they had free traffic quota at night.

Anyway, if you also have problems with your home internet connection, then it’s good to know that plans by Touch are not more affordable now until the DSL infrastructure is hopefully fully upgraded.

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Starbucks Raouche: The Best Branch in Lebanon So Far

By on October 12, 2018 in Reviews

Starbucks recently opened a new branch in Raouche (right next to Al Falamanki) which has a really nice view of the sea and the Pigeon Rock. So far, I think this is their best branch in Lebanon, and as simple as their offering is, it is possibly the best place along the coast there right now.

The problem (for me) with cafes and restaurants along the sea in Raouche and Ain El Mraiseh is that they all serve Arguileh so you are always obliged to tolerate the smoke around you, and I feel like they all try to rip you off with mediocre food and coffee. Last time I went to Bay Rock Cafe I paid $20 for two shitty Cappuccinos and a zaatar man’oushe.

And regardless whether it was Starbucks or other chain, I found it awesome to have a new place by the sea where you can chill, have good coffee, and enjoy the view, minus all the irritating things you hate at Lebanese restaurants. So yeah thank you Al Shaya!

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Dual SIM Phones and Mandatory IMEI Registration in Lebanon

By on September 13, 2018 in Telecom

Earlier this month the ministry of telecommunication brought back the mandatory IMEI registration as an attempt to keep dealers from smuggling mobile phones into the country without paying any customs duty. In principle, buyers are not required to do anything when buying a legal phone from the local market, but they will of course have to pay the due tax when getting a phone from abroad.

Before this new mechanism became effective, the ministry asked people to insert a SIM card in their old devices in order for the cellular networks to recognize them as “legal” devices in the future. I imagine the majority did it, but some people who use dual SIM phone might have missed to insert a card into their second SIM slot (I know I did!) since each slot has a different IMEI number that should be registered with one of the available networks.

My friend who uses a supposedly legal Sony XZ1 recently tried using a second line in his second SIM slot and received the below SMS from MoT.

Funnily enough, when he contacted 111 to ask about the issue they literally answered “el SIM mish mjamrak” instead of explaining to him that he should have inserted a card into that second slot prior to the first of September. The guy also went to LibanPost to inquire about the fees he should pay in order for his phone to work properly and they had absolutely no idea what should be done in his case!

So in brief, in case you have a dual SIM phone and also forgot about that second slot you have in you device, then you should know it will only function for 90 days when you need it.

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First Lebanese Pilot Saadeddine Dabbous Passes Away at 92

By on August 16, 2018 in Social, Travel

Two days ago, Captain Saadeddine Dabbous who was the first Lebanese pilot and eventually the first Lebanese ever to fly a Middle East Airlines plane in 1952 passed away at 92 years old leaving behind two proud generations of airline pilots.

Captain Dabbous served Lebanon’s national carrier for around 40 years and his story of becoming a captain is rather interesting since he originally started as an accountant with MEA in 1947. However, two years after that the company aimed to hire Lebanese pilots which motivated Dabbous to sign up for one of the training programs.

Four years later, following the training he attended abroad and after logging 5,000 flight hours as a co-pilot, he made his first flight as a captain from Cairo to Beirut in 1952 and the event got a lot of media attention back then, and he eventually kept serving in his position until his retirement in 1985 and was also honored by the Lebanese presidency for his career. Later on his two sons grew up to become pilots at the Middle East Airlines, and then two of his grandchildren also followed the same path and currently serve as co-pilots with the same airlines.

May his soul rest in peace.

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MEA is Offering Mile Rewards for Online Check-in

By on August 16, 2018 in Travel

I was just checking the MEA website for ticket prices now when I noticed they are currently offering 1,000 bonus miles every time you check-in online using their website or the mobile app!

The offer is valid till September 16th and miles will be credited to your account at the end of the promotion period. I personally always make sure to check-in online because some airlines assign a dedicated bag drop line to those who do and it is usually less crowded that the normal line, moreover you get your papers processed much faster.

So if you are already a member of their Cedar Miles program or that of any of their partners then make sure to not miss the opportunity.

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Joe Show’s Segment on Lebanon’s Freedom of Speech and Public Debt

By on August 6, 2018 in Politics

Make sure to check Joe Show’s latest video on God’s Heaven as he speaks about our public debt and the recent arrests over free speech.

This isn’t the first time for him to talk about Lebanon with the last time being about the elections I think, but what puzzles me every time is the number of people defending their sect leaders in the comments like they’re just flawless.

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McDonald’s Is Releasing MacCoins for The Big Mac 50th Anniversary

By on August 3, 2018 in Food, Uncategorized

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Big Mac, McDonald’s is releasing their own currency called “Mac Coins” in more than 50 countries around the world including Lebanon.

As of August 2nd, people around the world started getting a MacCoin with every purchase of a Big Mac burger, and that coin can then be used to get another Big Mac for free at any participating McDonald’s outlet in the world until the end of 2018. I’ve read online that more than 6 million MacCoins will be given away and you can start getting them in Lebanon as of August 9th.

According to USA Today, the commemorative coins will come in 5 different designs, each one representing one of the decades since the Big Mac has been sold.

The ‘70s: Showcasing the decade’s flower power

The ‘80s: Alluding to pop art

The ‘90s: Defined by bold, abstract shapes

The early ‘00s: Specifically focusing on the technology that was at the forefront of the turn of the century

The ‘10s: MacCoin calling attention to the evolution of communication

I usually like to try McDonald’s when I’m abroad to see if they serve any special edition burgers at the country I’m visiting, but the Big Mac remains one of my favorite items on their menu along with the Big Tasty, and I’ll personally make sure to collect all the 5 coins as soon as they’re available in Lebanon not to exchange them for free meals but to keep them as a souvenirs for the future!

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Chicken Hatchery Discovered at Electricité Du Liban 🤦🏻‍♂️

By on July 31, 2018 in What the fuck!

Last week was absolutely full of fucked up news. The cyber crime bureau has been randomly calling people in for investigation over opinions expressed on their social media accounts, Beirut Municipality is planning to go forward with deploying a waste incinerator somewhere around Karantine just like 1st world countries do, and political leaders are meanwhile busy sharing the cake fighting over the government seats.

However, one post on Facebook by journalist Rasha Abou Zaki almost overshadowed all other news (to me at least) as she unveiled a chicken hatchery inside the Electrecité Du Liban headquarters!

As Rasha stated, it is unbelievable how none of the responsibles at EDL knew about it or did anything to stop it, and I believe other governmental institutions are certainly not any better.

Given how chaotic things are in the country we used to always hear people comparing it to a farm, and this shows the government is actually living up to that reputation!

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Electrician From Zgharta Finds a Solution to Nationwide Problem “Tak L Disjoncteur”

By on July 30, 2018 in Technology

Thanks to our state-of-the-art electricity infrastructure in Lebanon, we not only have to worry about the random daily outages but also about the number of appliances you can simultaneously switch on before your circuit breaker gets overloaded and automatically shuts off. And when it happens, you of course have to either go down to the electricity room to turn it on again or call someone to do it for you. Bottom line, it’s irritating.

For that, Salim Roumieh, an electrician from Zgharta, came up with a simple solution by designing his own power breaker than can be switched on or off with a remote control. So every time “bitek l disjoncteur”, he simply pushes a button to get the power back on again! I know it may sound silly, but think of how helpful it can be when it’s too hot or too cold to step outside your apartment.

There’s not much technical details online about this power breaker or the coverage of its remote control (for example what if the electricity is underground?) but Salim Roumieh already got a patent for his design from the ministry economy and there’s a chance we might soon see it available in the market.

In all cases, you can read more about his story here and here.

photos via techiedad.me and safiralchamal.com 

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Ogero Super Ultra Fast Speeds – It All Started But When The F*** Will It Be All Done?

By on July 12, 2018 in Telecom

When I started facing interruptions with my internet connection last summer, I never expected the problem to persist for a whole year with no solution in sight so far.

Although I am an IDM customer, the problem was attributed to some faulty cables/equipment on Ogero’s side, and the latter claimed they cannot do anything about it until the active cabinets project that was promised in the beginning of 2017 reaches my area. Come to think of it logically, the thing is similar to owning a car with the manufacturer simply refusing to repair it for you because they have a new model coming out next year!

But guess what, more than a year later the situation is even worse with the below poor readings on my modem for more than a week now.

So it’s 2018 and I am getting less than 0.01 Mbps as a download speed.

We have been hearing promises for much better speeds ever since a new director general was appointed at Ogero, and except for the publicity stunts they stage every now and then to show us 100 Mbps speeds around some places in Beirut, I personally haven’t seen any sign of real progress. If anything, my experience shows short sighted vision and a lack of proper planning from their side, I mean how on earth can you cease support on your existing infrastructure when you have hundreds of thousands still connected to it?

Ogero have been trying to change their image for a while now starting with the rebranding work they did, getting more active on social platforms, and getting engaged with so called “influencers”, but nothing will really change it unless they put their words into actions, and until then they will always be regarded as one of the “daweiyir dawleh” that simply work by the “daweiyir dawleh” standards!

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