Libya Telecom and Technology (LTT), the state-owned internet provider, has taken Libya into the fourth generation service era by introducing the country’s first 4G portable WiFi routers.
The first phase of the project targets seven cities, including Tripoli, Misrata, and Zawia in the west, while they introducing the service respectively to Benghazi, Bayda and Shahat in the east, and Sabha in the south.
The LTT noted that supporting devices will be distributed to its resellers throughout the cities.
The 4G announcement was first received with a wave of satisfaction and support on social networking sites before turning into anger once the company revealed the prices for the new service, which was considered to be too expensive compared with other developing countries.
The service will be available for new subscribers at the cost of 990 dinars and an initial balance of 700 dinars valid for 1 year, while former subscribers to WiMAX service can benefit from the new service at the price of 490 dinars and an initial balance of 250 dinars valid also for 1 year.
The company introduced three new pay-as-you-go packages for the 4G subscribers: 30 GB at 75 dinars, 20 GB at 60 dinars and 10 GB at 35 dinars. The download and upload speed of the new service was not yet disclosed, but the company indicated that the speed can by affected by several factors including distance, peak times, website hits and number of requests to the base transceiver stations.
