BEIRUT: Telecoms Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui Thursday unveiled a $110 million plan to upgrade and modernize the cellular network to put an end to sub-standard mobile service.

The minister, who was speaking at ESA’s Higher Business Studies, said the National Quality of Services will take the telecoms sector into a new era.

“I am happy to announce to the Lebanese that the National Quality of Services for the cellular networks will put an end to the poor mobile services. This plan will take eight months to be completed. But the Lebanese will feel the positive results in two to three months. Today I have signed the appropriate investment decision which will allow the two cellular companies, Mtc Touch and Alfa, to start work on this big project,” the minister said.

The first phase of the plan, according to Sehnaoui, was based on a technical and geographic survey to determine the points of weaknesses in the cellular networks, which were identified in both densely populated areas and remote areas where the reception is weak or even negligible.

“In light of the survey, the ministry will buy 400 E1200 antenna stations that will be located in areas where the services are weak. The ministry will also buy 20 mobile stations that will provide a backup support and especially in the densely populated areas such as center of the capital, for example,” he explained.

The ministry also has plans to buy 120 repeaters that would handle the problems of illegal equipment which some subscribers use to strengthen reception from their residence.

“The required investments to maintain and develop the cellular networks are $110 million and this figure is close to the international standards but still this amount is not sufficient due to the shortage of investments over the past few years.

Both the general managers of Mtc Touch and Alfa reiterated the importance of this plan.