Telecommunications networks are inextricably linked to people's daily lives; they open a window to knowledge for students, connect employees to their work, and carry a mother's voice to her children. Yet Syrians—who should have benefited from their country's largest telecom company—found themselves paying a double price for years: once through bills for a service of declining quality and widening coverage gaps, and again when the company’s revenues—instead of being reinvested in network upgrades and service improvements—were funneled into the economy of a regime that plundered the country and financed the instruments of repression and slaughter.
Therefore, the new management of Syriatel cannot simply offer empty words about a "fresh start." There are inherited problems that must be dismantled and resolved; what, then, is the new management doing in this regard? This is what will reveal whether the new direction is genuinely reformist, or if we are merely witnessing a recycling of previous administrations and their operational methods under new names.
Before examining the current management's actions, it is useful to look back at the company’s past—specifically the nature of its relationship with the regime prior to the recent shake-up, and the legacy of that era: a strained infrastructure and a host of problems and unresolved issues that accumulated over the years.
Syriatel in the Makhlouf Era
Since its inception in 2001, Syriatel has been inextricably linked to Rami Makhlouf—a cousin of the ousted Bashar al-Assad and a primary beneficiary of his proximity to power. The corruption of both Makhlouf and the regime that enabled him was an open secret; matters escalated to the point where, in 2008, the US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on him. The Treasury stated that he had both benefited from and facilitated public corruption, using intimidation and his ties to the regime to secure commercial advantages at the expense of the Syrian people. Subsequently, Syriatel was placed on sanctions lists due to Makhlouf’s ownership and control, with the European Union stating that the company had provided financial support to the regime.
The issue went beyond direct financial ties; studies on the war economy documented how the "Al-Bustan" association—affiliated with Makhlouf—funded dozens of armed factions fighting alongside the regime. Even after Makhlouf fell out with Assad and was sidelined, the company did not transition to clear ownership or independent management; instead, it entered a phase characterized by a web of interconnected corporate entities and front figures, while the network aged and vast areas remained without coverage.
According to various press and investigative reports, effective control of Syriatel passed—following Makhlouf’s ouster—to Yassar Ibrahim, an economic advisor to Bashar al-Assad and a key figure in the "Economic Council" managed by Asma al-Assad. Although the company generated and publicly reported profits during this six-year period, these revenues did not translate into significant investment in the network—as evidenced by the state of aging towers and limited coverage on the eve of the "Liberation."
European sanctions lists subsequently designated Yassar Ibrahim in his capacity as an economic advisor to Bashar al-Assad and a member of the Economic Council managed by Asma al-Assad, describing him as a front for business activities linked to the couple. Meanwhile, a Reuters investigation documented his role in orchestrating the smuggling of regime funds, assets, and documents out of the country on the eve of its collapse in December 2024. That was the situation prior to the Liberation; so, what has changed?
Who owns and leads Syriatel today? Following the takeover, the new management inherited a company burdened by a strained infrastructure, complex and thorny issues, and a reputation that cast doubt on any official statement it issued. However, available indicators and official statements suggest that the Syrian sovereign wealth fund—a state-owned public economic entity—has emerged as the dominant force in managing Syriatel and shaping its decision-making.
This shift appears to be reflected in the selection of a new management team possessing both administrative and sector-specific expertise. On March 11, 2026, Yasser Qahf was appointed CEO, bringing with him over 25 years of experience in business and management. Meanwhile, Wassim Sabri assumed the role of Chairman of the Board, while simultaneously overseeing the telecommunications sector within the sovereign wealth fund. Sabri is no newcomer to the telecommunications industry; he possesses extensive experience in the field and is intimately familiar with Syriatel’s internal operations, having worked there prior to the outbreak of the 2011 revolution.
The hypothesis regarding the sovereign wealth fund's influence is supported by announcements made by the head of the Syrian Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority, as well as statements from the company’s chairman at an international investment forum. This marks a significant departure from the monopolization of the company’s resources by a narrow circle of interests, while also lending the new management the professional credibility needed to tackle accumulated challenges. These changes signal a shift in the company’s management style—moving away from an era long defined by specific individuals and networks of vested interests toward a management approach that seeks to position itself as grounded in expertise and professional administration.
However, this transformation cannot be judged solely on the basis of appointments; the ultimate test lies in the new management's tangible results: the scale of investment in the network, the pace of infrastructure development, geographic expansion, and the quality of services ultimately delivered to subscribers. Here, figures become more significant than rhetoric, as they allow for measuring the gap between the company’s past and present states; transparency remains the most decisive proof of the company’s complete break with its past. So, has Syriatel truly changed?
Syriatel by the Numbers: A Measurable Starting Point
Prior to the liberalization, Syriatel’s issues stemmed not only from poor coverage and aging sites but also from the level of investment in network development. Syriatel states that its network previously comprised 2,925 towers utilizing limited technologies.
Following liberalization, however, Syriatel reports a noticeable transformation in its network infrastructure, driven by the expanded use of modern technologies. The company worked to upgrade the network, increasing the number of 4G-enabled towers to over 4,131. Of these, more than 1,088 were equipped with 4G+ technology, and over 68 were fitted with 5G technology—marking the latter's debut on the network.
These figures indicate that the number of 4G-enabled towers alone now exceeds the total tower count cited for the previous period by approximately 41.2%. The change is not limited to......technology upgrades; it also encompasses the rehabilitation of existing sites, the construction of new ones, and expansion into areas where Syriatel was absent during the pre-liberation years—including Aleppo, Idlib, and the eastern regions.
Another challenge accompanying this expansion is the return of millions of displaced people to areas that suffered extensive destruction. According to the company, this places additional strain on telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in areas that were previously off-grid or had limited coverage, such as Eastern Ghouta and parts of the Aleppo and Latakia countrysides. The return of the population means a resurgence in demand for telecommunications and internet services in areas that simultaneously require infrastructure reconstruction.
These figures alone are insufficient to claim that the network issue has been fully resolved, yet they provide a clear basis for measuring the difference between the two phases. The comparison here is not based on impressions, but rather on the number of towers, the technologies brought into service, and the areas where network connectivity has been restored. The ultimate test remains the continuation of this investment and its translation into better coverage and more stable service for subscribers.
601 Towers by 2026: Will the Numbers Translate into Coverage?
Beyond technical upgrades, the subscriber experiences the change in simpler terms: Is the signal stronger? Has the network reached their area?
Syriatel reports that, from the beginning of 2026 to the time of writing, it has completed the construction and restoration of 601 towers—averaging nearly 71 towers per month—in addition to upgrading over 1,060 towers with new technologies and increased capacity.
If the current pace of construction continues, completing the remaining required work could take approximately three years. However, this calculation is theoretical; the specific conditions of the completed sites remain unknown, as does whether the pace of progress will stabilize, slow down, or accelerate. Faster completion could be achieved through increased implementation teams, expedited procurement and licensing processes, accumulated expertise, and higher investment.
To grasp the scale of this transformation, it is useful to examine the experiences of other markets that transitioned from limited adoption of modern technologies to gradual expansion. In Iraq, World Bank data indicates that 4G service penetration remained limited until 2020, when a phase of service expansion began following the renewal of operator licenses and the subsequent launch of the service. While the Iraqi experience does not offer a direct parallel to the Syrian situation—given the differences in conditions, infrastructure, and operating environments—it illustrates that the technological transition in telecommunications networks does not happen all at once. Instead, it unfolds in stages: upgrading existing infrastructure, expanding coverage, and subsequently introducing newer technologies. Zain Iraq, for instance, launched 4G-LTE in 2021 and later announced significant investments in 2024 to upgrade its network, implement new technologies, increase capacity, and modernize its transmission network.
Will Syriatel Reconnect Syrians?
Military conflict and the negligence of the previous management did more than just leave behind a weak telecommunications network; they also contributed to fragmenting Syrians across separate networks and regions, each with its own distinct communication systems.
To the credit of the company’s current management, the network reconstruction effort was not limited to areas where Syriatel already had a presence; it extended to regions that had remained cut off from integrated connectivity for years.
Clearly, this move holds symbolic significance that transcends the mere construction of towers and communication networks in new areas. Syriatel states that its rehabilitation, construction, and modernization efforts have extended across various Syrian governorates. The company is working to install new towers while restoring and upgrading existing ones as part of a plan to expand nationwide coverage.
We contacted Syriatel to obtain detailed figures regarding what has been accomplished since the "liberation." The company is now providing data on network development, tower distribution, and the technologies employed. This allows the conversation to shift from general talk about "network improvement" to tracking figures that can be measured and compared over time.
In a report examining a transformation of this magnitude, this is perhaps one of the most crucial points: the company’s activities have become measurable and trackable, rather than remaining mere promises about the future.
The Internet: A New Labor Market
Slow and intermittent internet connectivity has undermined Syrians' opportunities for education and remote work. This is no minor loss; in 2025, digitally deliverable service exports reached approximately $5.4 trillion—accounting for 56% of total global service exports—while digital exports from developing nations totaled around $1.3 trillion.
Regarding the labor market, the World Bank estimates that between 154 million and 435 million people worldwide work via digital platforms.
Consequently, developing the telecommunications network is not merely about clearer calls or faster internet speeds; it is directly linked to Syrians' ability to access education, remote work, digital services, and markets beyond their local areas.
According to figures released by Syriatel, investment in the 4G network has increased by over 90% since the liberation, while investment in the 4G+ network has risen by approximately 26%. For the current year, the company has set goals to complete network development and expand its service reach. These include erecting up to 1,000 new towers, covering more than 90% of geographic areas, and providing service to over 85% of the population.
These targets do not imply that coverage has already reached such levels; rather, they are publicly declared goals that put Syriatel to the test.
From network restoration to building a national network—will Syriatel succeed?
The steps Syriatel has taken since the liberation indicate that the company has embarked on a serious path toward reconnecting with the Syrian people; however, solidifying this transformation requires following through on what has been started. A significant gap in tower infrastructure remains, and coverage is weak in many areas. Furthermore, overcoming the legacy of a name long associated with corruption and the financing of the defunct regime requires time and a track record of tangible results that subscribers can experience in their daily lives.
Yet, ignoring the changes already underway is not an act of neutrality either; we now have figures and data that can be verified and tracked—including the shift in the company’s management approach, the number of towers completed versus those planned, and......expanding across various Syrian governorates and continuously upgrading the network.
Today, Syriatel has the opportunity to truly transform into a national company for all Syrians. The general trajectory and available data clearly support this direction—a prospect eagerly awaited by Syrians who look forward to the evolution of their national operator.
Zaman Al-Wasl
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