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Alfa Telecom Now Supports eSIM on iPhone

By on March 21, 2019 in Technology, Telecom

Alfa Telecommunications announced two days ago that their network now supports eSIM built into iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.

For those who don’t know, an eSIM (or electronic SIM) serves the same purpose as that of a physical one, which is to store the data that authenticate your handset to the mobile network. However, in the case of the eSIM, the data are stored into a small chip that is built right into your phone. And in order to activate this eSIM you either download an app by your mobile operator or simply scan a QR code and your phone will be able to connect and make phone calls or use data plans.

So if you are an Alfa subscriber and happen to own one of the new devices with eSIM support, you can head to one of their stores and get a QR code in order to activate a second line on your phone if you need to.

I expect touch to also announce support for eSIM sometime soon since the two operators almost always end up having the same offerings.

photo via Kaspersky Blog.

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Dual SIM Phones and Mandatory IMEI Registration in Lebanon

By on September 13, 2018 in Telecom

Earlier this month the ministry of telecommunication brought back the mandatory IMEI registration as an attempt to keep dealers from smuggling mobile phones into the country without paying any customs duty. In principle, buyers are not required to do anything when buying a legal phone from the local market, but they will of course have to pay the due tax when getting a phone from abroad.

Before this new mechanism became effective, the ministry asked people to insert a SIM card in their old devices in order for the cellular networks to recognize them as “legal” devices in the future. I imagine the majority did it, but some people who use dual SIM phone might have missed to insert a card into their second SIM slot (I know I did!) since each slot has a different IMEI number that should be registered with one of the available networks.

My friend who uses a supposedly legal Sony XZ1 recently tried using a second line in his second SIM slot and received the below SMS from MoT.

Funnily enough, when he contacted 111 to ask about the issue they literally answered “el SIM mish mjamrak” instead of explaining to him that he should have inserted a card into that second slot prior to the first of September. The guy also went to LibanPost to inquire about the fees he should pay in order for his phone to work properly and they had absolutely no idea what should be done in his case!

So in brief, in case you have a dual SIM phone and also forgot about that second slot you have in you device, then you should know it will only function for 90 days when you need it.

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