BEIRUT: The majority of Internet users have seen no change to their speeds since a scheduled increase was due to come in to effect, according to poll conducted by The Daily Star this week.

The vast majority, 68 percent, of the poll’s more than 550 respondents said that their Internet connection was “slow and nothing had changed” since the beginning of October, the month the government said Internet Service Providers would receive faster speeds to pass on to users.

The next largest group, of 15.6 percent, of respondents in the weeklong poll conducted on The Daily Star’s website said they had noticed “a marginal increase.” Only 9.4 percent said their connection was as fast as the authorities said it would be.

The results may come as no surprise to Lebanon’s 1 million Internet users, who have waited years for an increase to speeds which have been rated the worst in the world by online speed-testing group, Speednet.com.

Critics cite key issues, including a national Internet backbone that is obsolete and needs upgrading, distribution delays, archaic legislation, and the sector’s lack of transparency.

Some activists contend that the infrastructure necessary for a fast connection is ready, but that political bickering is preventing it from being “switched on.”

This appeared to be resolved over the summer, with the activation of an international fiber optic submarine cable, and the release by the government of the new schedule of prices.

However, it is unclear if the promised high speeds have come into effect, with many Lebanese Internet users continuing to complain about the same high prices and slow connections.

Ruba Mourad, a member of the internet activist group Flip the Switch, wrote on the group’s Facebook wall Tuesday: “Hey guys! Does anyone know what's going on in Hamra? Has the upgrade been implemented? We feel no difference at all. Any suggestions?”

She added, “Our plan is with IDM and on our web account IDM states that we have been upgraded to 1Mb download, but in reality that is not the case. We barely get 0.16 MB. Please let me know if anyone has felt any improvement.”

Meanwhile, another internet activist group, Ontornet, urged people to be patient, noting that the government had promised faster connection in the beginning of October, and that the month is not yet at the halfway point.