Beirut, October 2, 2025: Touch launched the Special Numbers e-Auction service through its website www.touch.com.lb and mobile app, following Minister of Telecommunications Charles Hajj instructions, who is keen to provide equal opportunities to obtain special numbers while simultaneously securing more revenue for the public treasury.
This follows the transfer of the special numbers service from the Minister's office to the two mobile companies, who placed it on their respective websites to enable citizens to obtain them directly and transparently, without any intermediaries.
The online auction includes special numbers in all categories: Chrome, Bronze, Silver, Golden, Diamond B, and Diamond A.
"The Ministry of Telecommunications has adopted absolute transparency as a firm choice in providing services to everyone equally and without interference”, stated Minister of Telecommunications Charles Hajj.
Minister Hajj also emphasized the ministry's commitment to "making every effort to increase revenues and support the state treasury, which is in dire need of more revenues, either for reconstruction, improving the salaries of public sector employees, or investing them in improving infrastructure, including telecommunications."
Touch Chairman and General Manager Karim Salim Salam said, "The close cooperation with the Ministry of Telecommunications and its commitment to proceeding quickly on various plans prompted us to expedite the launch of the electronic public auction service for special numbers before the agreed-upon time. We were able to achieve this thanks to the dedication of the touch team, their intensified efforts, and their round-the-clock collaboration." Salam emphasized "the absolute transparency that characterizes the electronic auction process because it is entirely automated."
To participate in the e-auction, the customer must be at least 18 years of age, Lebanese national or a foreign resident, holds valid official identification documents, and meets the company's eligibility requirements for line issuance. Following the fulfillment of the eligibility criteria, customer may select the desired auctioned number(s), complete the registration process and remit the required registration fees. While a customer is permitted to participate in multiple auctions, the system enforces a limit of two distinctive numbers for simultaneous bidding.
The registration fees, which include value-added tax, are $30 for Chrome, $50 for Bronze, $70 for Silver, $100 for Gold, $200 for Diamond B, and $300 for Diamond A. These fees are only withdrawn after the bidding begins. In the event that any auction is canceled, the subscriber will receive a refund within 30 days. In addition, touch sends a text message containing an OTP code to the subscriber who has registered and paid the fees, as well as the number they have chosen to participate in the auction. The company also set the minimum starting price for any auction for each category as follows:
Chrome: $180
Bronze: $350
Silver: $600
Gold: $1,500
Diamond B: $8,500
Diamond A: $17,000
Each participant in the e-Auction can monitor the progress of the auction on touch website or the mobile app until the auction automatically closes at the pre-specified time. The participant who bids the highest is awarded a unique number, and the company announces the sale on its website and mobile app.