Lebanon Spectrum Refarming Consultation: TRA Opens 5G & Broadband Framework
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The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) og Lebanon has launched a public consultation on its proposed Spectrum Refarming: Broadband Context and Framework, published on April 30, 2026. The document outlines a comprehensive plan to reorganize Lebanon's radio-frequency (RF) spectrum, accelerate broadbrand depoyment through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), regularize the unlicensed market, and establish a future, ready 5G/6G licensing regime.
The consultation is issued pursuant to Law No. 431/2002 and decisions of the Lebanese Council of Ministers, which empower the TRA to manage spectrum as a national resource. Stakeholders, including telecom operators, Dara Service Providers (DSPs), equipment manufacturers, and industry associations, may submit written contributions until May 21, 2026.
Background: Why Lebanon Needs Spectrum Refarming Now
Lebanon's broadband market is, on paper, near-universal, but the TRA's recent technical audit identified widespread irregularities. A large share of broadband is currently delivered by DSPs operating outside formally assigned frequency bands, often as point-to-point (P2P) enterprise links rather than as licensed point-to-multipoint (PMP) FWA access. The result has been inefficient use of a scarce national resource, poor quality of service, lost government revenue, and an inability to deploy modern 4G/5G technologies.
The consultation proposes to bridge this gap by transitioning all customers, estimated at roughly 34,000 directly served subscribers plus a much larger reseller base, into a legal, quality-assured framework managed by licensed national or regional providers.
Key Pillars of the Lebanon Spectrum Refarming Consultation Framework
The TRA's proposal rests on four strategic objectives:
Spectrum reorganization - refarming IMT mid-bands at 2300-2400 MHz, 2500-2700 MHz, and 3300-3800 MHz, plus access to the 26 GHz high-band, to support 4G/5G FWA deployment.
Preparation for 5G/6G licensing - technology-neutral licensing alligned with ITU and 3GPP timelines, with reserved sub-bands and expansion slots for next-generation services.
Regularization of the unlicensed market - providing legal migration routes, reseller absorption obligations, and penalties for non-compliance.
Broadband acceleration via FWA and FTTH - issuing fixed individual licenses for FTTH deployment and coordinating rollout with FWA coverage obligations, alongside the Ministry of Telecommunications' fixed network plans.
5G FWA in the mid-bands and 26 GHz can deliver fiber like speeds (often >100 Mbps per household) with spectral efficiency around 4.5 bits/Hz, a major leap from current LTE-FWA performance of 10-50 Mbps.
What This Means for Manufacturers
Although the consultation is primarily addressed to operators and service providers, the framework has direct implications for equipment manufacturers, importers, and certification bodies supplying the Lebanese market:
Band alignment: Devices and infraestructure intended for Lebanon must support the harmonized IMT mid-bands (2.3 GHz, 2.5/2.6 GHz, 3.3-3.8 GHz) and the 26 GHz mmWave band. Equipment limited to legacy 2G/3G, only operation will progressively lose market viability.
Technology neutrality: Because the TRA intends technology-neutral licensing manufacturers should design and certify equipment that can be software-upgraded between 4G LTE, 5G NR, and future 6G profiles.
Type approval & homologation: All radio equipment placed on the Lebanese market must continue to undergo TRA type approval. Refarming will likely trigger updates to the Lebanese National Frequency Allocation Table (LNFT) and to associated technical specifications referenced in homologation procedures.
CPE for FWA: Demand for indoor and outdoor Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) supporting mid-band and mmWave FWA is expected to rise sharply once licensing concludes.
EMC / RF safety: Manufacturers should anticipate alignment with ITU-R and ETSI harmonized standards used as the technical reference in the refarming plan.
Certification Impact Summary
Area | Current state | Expected impact after refarming |
TRA type approval | Required for all radio equipment | Updated technical conditions per new band plan |
Frequency bands | Fragmented, partly unlicensed use | Harmonized IMT bands (2.3 / 2.5 / 3.3–3.8 GHz, 26 GHz) |
DSP licensing | Many DSPs operating without formal assignments | Mandatory migration to national/regional licenses |
FWA CPE | Limited LTE-only ecosystem | 5G NR CPE mandatory for new deployments |
2G/3G-only devices | Still circulating | Expected import/use restrictions over time |
FTTH equipment | MoT-led rollout | New TRA fixed individual licenses open to DSPs and new entrants |
Timeline + Required Actions
Date | Milestone | Action required |
April 30, 2026 | TRA publishes the consultation document | Operators, DSPs and manufacturers begin internal review |
April 30 – May 21, 2026 | Public consultation window | Submit written comments, data, and subscriber/reseller estimates to the TRA |
May 21, 2026 | Deadline for stakeholder submissions | Final contributions must reach the TRA |
Post-consultation (2026) | TRA evaluates inputs; final refarming decisions aligned with CoM policy | Manufacturers prepare product roadmaps for harmonized bands |
Following months | Issuance of FWA and FTTH individual licenses; migration of unlicensed users | Equipment makers update homologation files; DSPs apply for licenses; operators plan 5G FWA rollout |
Medium term | 5G/6G licensing regime activated | Full transition to technology-neutral, 5G-capable equipment |
The Lebanon spectrum refarming consultation is one of the most significant regulatory moves in the country's telecom sector in over a decade. By harmonizing the IMTA mid-bands and 26 GHz with international practice, the TRA aims to unlock genuine 5G FWA broadband, restore regulatory integrity, and create a clear path to 5G/6G licensing. Stakeholders, particularly equipment manufacturers and importers, have a narrow window until May 21, 2026 to engage with the consultation and to start aligning their certification, product, and supply chain strategies with the new framework.
