BEIRUT: Consumers Lebanon said Wednesday that mobile, land line and Internet rates were still too high compared to most countries around the world.

The statement said telecoms officials view the sector as a gold mine because it generates more than $1.4 billion annually for the treasury at a time when taxes on the profits of major companies and real estate transactions remain very low.

Citing some examples, Consumers Lebanon noted that in theory a one-minute call from a land line costs $0.0326 but in reality it is $0.057.

It added that in theory the rate of a call from a prepaid mobile phone is $0.36 but in reality it is $0.63, while the post-paid is in theory $0.11 but in reality it is $0.1785.

It stressed that the mobile and Internet rates in most countries are substantially lower than those in Lebanon. Consumers Lebanon added that telecommunications rates in France, for example, are 10 times less expensive than in Lebanon although the minimum wage in France is four times higher.