The extended contracts have a renewable option for additional six months.

The extension of the two contracts put privatization plans on hold this year, according to analysts.
 It will also delay plans to set-up the local telecom company, Liban Telecom.

Zain’s and OTH’s management contracts are a bridging measure until privatization of the sector takes place.

MTC touch dominates 55 percent of the local market.  As at September 30, 2009, its customer base reached 1.3 million subscribers.

Alfa has a 45 percent market share. It increased its subscriber base to over one million subscribers after it expanded its network last year.