Tag Archives | project

Ogero Announces Its Fiber Deployment Timeplan

By Rami on November 23, 2018 in Telecom

If you regularly visit Ogero’s website then you probably have noticed that they recently published their plan for deploying the fiber network (FTTX) around Lebanon.

Over the next three years and until min 2021, the time-plan shows that at the end of each quarter a number of areas will start benefiting from the FTTX project. Still, the schedule seems to be subject to change since the exchange office I am connected to was set to be done by Q4 2018 but I noticed today that it was delayed along with several other area till Q2 2019.

I personally can’t wait till my DSL line gets on board the Fiber project because my internet connection speed has been unbearable for almost two years now, and the last time I tried to complain once again to Ogero’s support I got a mediocre argument and funnily enough, they requested that I ask my ISP (IDM) to follow-up on my problem with them instead of me doing it personally. (Because logic!!)

Anyway, you can stay up to date with the time-plan on this link and don’t forget to keep your fingers crosses.

AUB Sets a Guinness World Record By Creating The Largest Mosaic Flag

By Rami on May 12, 2018 in Culture, Events, Guinness

A group of students at the American University of Beirut set a Guinness world record in a project called “Share the Flag” by creating the largest notebook mosaic flag made of 60,000 notebook that were placed in the green field.

The event took place few days ago on May 9th and it took them around 24 hours to make it possible. Moreover, as a tribute to the Lebanese Army, the son of martyr Colonel Danny Harb (Rayan Harb), completed the Lebanese flag by placing the last red notebook.

The best part about the whole thing though was donating all of the notebooks that were used to create the Lebanese flag to a large number of public schools in Lebanon. It may sound insignificant to some but needful families will definitely appreciate any contribution to their kids education no matter how small it is.

Check out this time-lapse video showing how they did it.

LEGO Emoji Art in Beirut

By Rami on May 4, 2017 in Art

Someone going by the handle “LemojiArt” on Instagram contacted me today to inform me about a visual project they’re working on which involves building LEGO Emojis (hence the word lemoji) and sticking them around Beirut. I can’t really explain the point of the project other than bringing a smile to passers by and I personally liked it.

Among the lemojis made so far my favorite is the one at Salim Salam tunnel since I get stuck there everyday! (I wouldn’t have noticed it by myself though if it wasn’t for the photo due to its small size)

Mar Mkhayel

Salim Salam

Ain El Mrayyseh

I have no idea about the real identity of the artist as he/she prefered to remain anonymous, but all I know is that the project will not be limited to Beirut alone and will soon “invade” other cities, so stay tuned to LemojiArt.

Follow Fadi Bou Karam As He Visits All The Lebanons in USA

By Rami on October 25, 2016 in Travel

Fadi Bou Karam is a Lebanese photographer who’s currently in the US on an unusual yet cool quest to visit all the towns and cities called Lebanon there.

The number of cities he’s planning to visit are 43 and it will take him around 5 months to go over all of them. His starting point was Seattle where he rented a used caravan in order to save on hotel costs, and the closest Lebanon town to him right now is 1 week away in North Dakota. This massive road trip he’s doing should end in San Francisco around March 2017.

You can follow his news and the photos/videos he will be sharing on the blog he set up LebanonUSA.com.

His first post included a cool find from the 1950s about the late president Camille Chamoun who invited the mayors of 7 American towns called Lebanon in order to introduce them to the “real” Lebanon. Back then they spent two weeks touring the country and each one was given a small cedar tree as a souvenir on their way back to the US.

Wishing Fadi Bou Karam good luck in this fun quest! It’s hard not to envy people who go on such long trips by the way as I always dream of doing something similar in the far east!

via @ritakml

Banque Libano-Française is Getting a Cool New Headquarters in Saifi

By Rami on October 5, 2016 in Design

blf-magic-box

Earlier this year Banque Libano-Française launched a competition to build their new headquarters in Saifi and at the end of the selection process it was announced that Norwegian-American studio Snohetta won with their “Magic Box” design.

The design looks cool and I thought it is worth sharing since the new building will be a landmark in the area. The chequerboard-pattern facades look nice, but what stand out are definitely the plant-covered terraces carved into the roof and walls of the building.

Regarding the exact location of the project, the competition page shows it will be built on a piece of land opposite to the Lebanese Emigrant statue.

blf-7

blf-4

blf-6

blf-5

Photos via Design Boom

Lebanon Is Finally Getting The Much Needed Internet Infrastructure Upgrade

By Rami on June 23, 2015 in Lebanon

lebanon internet speed june 2015

I just stumbled upon this really good news about the Ministry of Telecommunications’ plan to upgrade the internet infrastructure by using fiber-optic cables to connect Ogero switching centers to residential and business premises.

The current infrastructures utilizes a fiber-optic network to connect centers together but relies on old copper wires to carry out internet data to the subscribers. The problem with these old wires is that they can handle transferring a maximum of 8Mbps depending on how close to the switching center you live. That’s why 1/3 of internet users in Lebanon cannot get more than 2Mbps to their homes since they simply live too far away from a central office!

The upgrade project will take 5 years to finish as per minister Harb and should allow internet speed to reach 100Mbps. So until that time, expect to encounter a lot of digging around the streets and just pray for the whole thing to finish on time without any major interruption.

O1ne club Beirut paint up

By Rami on August 28, 2013 in Lebanon

O1ne is a new club near Biel that is set to open its doors this winter. 16 International artists have worked a while ago to create this massive graffiti on its wall.

I’m still not sure by the way how are we supposed to spell “O1ne”! one? o-one-ne?

Mashrou’ Leila crowd-funding their third album Raasuk

By Rami on July 5, 2013 in Lebanon

I love Mashrou’ Leila. Even though I sometimes find it hard to understand the lyrics coming out of Hamed’s mouth but I just love their music.

Mashrou’ Leila are now about to release their third album titled “Raasuk”, but they’re not willing to sign a contract with any of the existing production companies in order not to make any compromises over their music, so they’re seeking help from their fans in order to raise at least $66,000 to design beautiful album art, print CDs, posters, flyers, make quality video clips, and play concerts with quality sound systems.

If you feel like helping them out, head over to Zoomaal and donate whatever amount you want. For any contribution above $5, you will earn a reward from the band ranging from a public thank you on their website to a private concert party on Skype and a dinner cooked by themselves.

A new highway to be constructed in Achrafieh

By Rami on March 5, 2013 in Lebanon

According to this article in The Daily Star today, there’s a new highway that is set to be constructed in the near future in Achrafieh linking Hazmieh to Charles Helou and passing by Mar Mkhayel. The project plan has been there since the 70’s but was delayed because some residential buildings have to be demolished, and the Council for Development and Reconstruction is now set to go forward with it starting this summer to help reduce the traffic in and out of Achrafieh.

Some activists however are opposing the project and trying to suggest some alternatives to avoid demolishing of old buildings and preserve the streets that might be affected by this highway. You can read more about it here.

This is definitely not an accurate drawing of the highway, but I’m trying to imagine how will it look like. I guess it will start somewehre in Alfred Naccache, passing by the small bridge in Charles Malek, and then straight to Charles Helou.

Marketplace Middle East on Zaitounay Bay

By Rami on June 6, 2012 in Lebanon

Beirut’s Zaitunay Bay is one of the city’s latest development projects — a waterfront promenade dotted with high-end shops and restaurants.

So far the project has been a success but in Beirut, domestic and regional instability always looms. MME spoke to one of the developers about the fine line between business opportunity and high-risk investment.

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