Beirut - Post Report Question and Answers
Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Nearly everyone just uses their issued phone. - May 2019
Bring your own unlocked smartphone. - Jul 2016
The Embassy issues phones to both direct-hires and EFMs. If you have a personal smart phone, MTC and Alpha are the big phone companies. You can generally find SIM cards in the stores in the mall. - Nov 2014
We are provided cell phones by the Embassy. - Apr 2014
You can get a pre-paid line or a fixed line (meaning you pay for usage at the end of the month). I started with pre-paid and later switched to fixed so I could have internet access. It's much more expensive that in the U.S. and there is no such thing as unlimited data or minutes. - Jan 2014
They are expensive! People use SMS and missed calls to avoid charges. - Apr 2012
All Lebanese have one, if not more, cell phones. The networks are GSM.Because of political disputes, the phone companies continue to be state owned and charge very high rates compared to other countries in the region. Service is ok for voice communication, but data coverage can be spotty. The embassy provides a cell phone to each employee, and some sections also provide Blackberries. - Jul 2010
Most Lebanese have cell phones. They tend to be slightly more expensive than in the U.S. or Europe but very handy -- as a lot of SMS messages are sent. - Jun 2009
You can get Alfa or MTC Touch. Both charge around US$35/month whether you use the phone or not. Per minute charges are reasonable. Compared to cell phone service charges in Syria, this place is a ripoff. - Jun 2008
Everyone has them, but they are quite expensive to make calls on. - Mar 2008
