Companies warn: Mobile communications will fail in war with Hezbollah

If a war with Hezbollah breaks out in the north, prolonged power outages could lead to disruptions in mobile communications, say communications experts. Telecommunications companies were already busy expanding their energy infrastructure in the north at the end of July.

After work began last May to improve mobile services, only a quarter of all sites of the three major service providers were accessible. The Ministry of Communications said it would reimburse costs to companies that completed their upgrades by the end of July.

Some of the sites being upgraded in the north are vulnerable to Hezbollah rocket attacks from villages in southern Lebanon. “The deadlines set by the Ministry of Communications are unrealistic,” said a senior official at one of the communications companies. “We only completed the purchase of the generators a month and a half ago, and the teams are working hard to reach the target while a war is underway.”

The rush to upgrade vital cellular infrastructure raises questions about the Ministry of Communications’ readiness for war. The possibility of war with Hezbollah has been known to all ministries since October 7. The ministry was also clear that it did not require the companies operating the cell towers to provide service during power outages lasting more than two hours as part of their licensing obligations.

“We need to ensure that in the event of war, all citizens remain connected, not just the north,” the Communications Ministry said. “The Finance Ministry has not responded to our proposals to extend the expansion to other parts of the country.”