NNA – Telecommunications Minister Johnny Corm asserted that “the measures taken to increase the tariff on mobile calls were aimed at protecting the sector against collapse,” and that “the price of prepaid cards will be in Lebanese pounds,” expressing surprise at “this rush on part of citizens” and “what is happening on the black market.”

Speaking to "Radio Ehden" Channel earlier today, he considered that the decision not to increase tariffs would have been bitter, adding, “I don’t think that people would have forgiven me had communication lines been cut-off, and this was on the table...In the absence of any aid, there is no room but to amend the pricing, because it is impossible to continue, especially since 21 percent of the workforce in both cellular companies migrated to search for work opportunities outside, and therefore I refused to bear the burden of the collapse of this productive sector in the country.”

=========R.Sh.