Upon Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s return from Washington earlier this week, leading Syria telecom operators, Syriatel and MTN, increased mobile internet prices by up to 200%, canceling cheap bundles without notice and forcing citizens to pay more.
The presidential visit, while filled with promising reforms, faced criticism on the bundles’ price increase, weighed by shock and frustration on different levels, especially that internet access in Syria is already a struggle.
For citizens, the move contradicted quite literally with their president’s promises and exposed the gaps within the regime, especially the Syria telecom sector’s fragility.
Syria Internet Cost Flames Anger
The backlash on Syria telecom services happened instantly.
On November 15th, the communications ministry ordered Syriatel and MTN to introduce new packages, upgrade service within 60 days with clear guides. The Ministry, in response, did not bother to reverse the hikes nor restore the short-term bundles of Syrian telcos that people depended on.
From the perspective of citizens that earn only between $80 to $120 monthly, they immediately began calculating their incomes’ expenses and their choice of mobile data. Following posts that compare the prices across the region, it was revealed that Syrians pay the highest costs for lowest speeds.
The anger from this unfair Syria internet prices situation goes back to the times of the country’s former President, Bashar Al-Assad. Back then, Syriatel was long seen as the main business arm of Rami Makhlouf, businessman and cousin of the former President.
“When ownership is hidden, people conclude the hikes benefit someone they cannot hold accountable,” said economic researcher Julian Badour. Both telecom companies now operate under opaque state linked arrangements, adding to public distrust.
Moreover, White Helmets coordinator Khalil Layla warned that people not being able to afford data could block urgent alerts, hinting on the fragile Syria telecom infrastructure.
Syria Telecom Landscape Falling Behind
Beyond the borders, all Syria internet access still lags behind its neighboring countries, such as Lebanon, Iraq. And Turkey.
In Turkey, 20 GB monthly bundles cost around $11 to $12, even tourist SIM cards offer better speeds than internet speed in Syria networks. Inside Syrian borders, a 1.5 GB bundle now costs around $2, and 35 GB reaches $4 to $5 sums that equal days of income for many.
“In Egypt, 1.4 GB is $1.40. In Jordan, 250 GB is $16. In Iraq, unlimited internet is $30. In Syria, 35 GB is half a week’s salary,” One student’s comment spread widely.
The price shock comes at a time when families already spend nearly half their income on basic needs, such as food. Internet cafés report a surge of students can no longer afford most Syria mobile data bundles and stay until closing time just to finish their homeworks.
The Syrian government continues to promote the $300 million “SilkLink” fiber-optic plan as a sign of progress, but no major telecom investor has submitted a binding offer for Syrian telecom companies.
“If shareholders remain invisible and revenues remain opaque, no foreign company will take the risk,” Badour said.
For now, Syrians wait for the Ministry of Telecommunication’ 60-day deadline to expire, with little confidence in the Syria telecom landscaping, believing that nothing will change. As Layla put it, it’s all about connection and when people lose that, everything else starts breaking.
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