You’re starting a new website or mobile app, and you’re trying to find a local Hosting company, and you start searching for “Lebanese web hosting companies” and “Lebanese web hosting services”, but you know what? You’ll probably end up paying more than you should for services that probably don’t worth your money.
In this article, I’ll explain how hosting companies work, what challenges hosting companies in Lebanon have, why you shouldn’t try to find a local hosting company, and what to do instead.
The questions we’re going to answer in this article:
- How web hosting companies work
- What challenges web hosting companies face
- Why there aren’t any in-house hosting companies in Lebanon
- How hosting companies in Lebanon work
- The business model of Lebanese web hosting companies
- What is web hosting reseller
- Why you should avoid Lebanese web hosting companies
- The alternatives of Lebanese web hosting companies
Understanding Web Hosting
Understanding web hosting is a vital part of getting started online. Whether you’re planning to create websites professionally, thinking about hiring someone to build your site, or simply curious about how it all works, the first thing you need to know is, “What is website hosting?” This basic knowledge is the starting point for your online adventure.
What is Web Hosting?
Web hosting is like a safe storage place for things on the internet. This “stuff” includes the code that makes websites work, images, videos, and the text you read online. Without a reliable place to keep all of this, we wouldn’t be able to access websites consistently. So, for everyone, whether you’re a big company or just someone with a personal account, web hosting is super important for being present online.
How Web Hosting companies work?
Web hosting is like a secure storage place for websites. It’s not just about storage, but that’s a big part of it. Web hosts use special computers called web servers to store website data. These servers make it easy for people to visit websites and keep everything running smoothly.
At the core of web hosting are specialized computers called web servers. These servers are designed to securely store all the files and data that make up a website. They’re always connected to the internet, ensuring that visitors can access your website anytime, anywhere.
Imagine these servers as digital warehouses where your website’s files, including text, images, videos, and databases, are stored. The amount of space allocated for your website’s files and the capacity for data transfer (bandwidth) are essential considerations when choosing a web hosting plan. Think of bandwidth as the highway that allows data to flow to and from your site; more traffic requires a wider highway.
Domain Name
Your website’s address on the internet is its domain name (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com). Many web hosting companies also offer domain registration services, simplifying the management of both your website’s files and its web address.
Monitoring
Web hosts continuously monitor and maintain their servers to ensure optimal performance. This includes regular hardware upgrades, software updates, and backup systems to prevent data loss.
Technical Support
In case you encounter any issues, reliable web hosting companies provide 24/7 customer support. Their technical experts are readily available to assist you in resolving problems promptly.
Challenges Faced by Lebanese Web Hosting Companies
International hosting companies, despite their hugeness and the high level of expertise, face a lot of challenges. They need to keep a stable connection, maintain a reliable electricity power source, create and maintain their software, track their clients’ websites, and a lot more.
All these challenges are faced by huge hosting companies such as Godaddy, BlueHost, HostGator, etc.. We’re still talking about huge companies, so please pay attention here.
If your hosting isn’t good enough, your website can have problems. Imagine if your storage unit had a leaky roof or was too small for all your stuff. Your website can act similarly if the hosting isn’t up to par. This can slow down your site and make it frustrating for visitors. It might even affect your business and the information you share with your audience. So, having the right hosting is important to keep things running smoothly online.
What if a company in Lebanon decided to provide you with the same services these corporations are providing? Imagine what would happen.
In-house Hypothesis: Power & Internet Connectivity Issues
Operating a web hosting company in a country like Lebanon, where electricity supply can be unstable, poses real challenges and issues.
I will only list a few problems.
Challenges Faced by Lebanese web hosting companies:
- Sudden Power Outages: If a server experiences an abrupt power outage without proper backup solutions like uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) or generators, it can result in an immediate shutdown. This sudden shutdown can cause data corruption or loss if data is not saved properly.
- Hardware Failures: Frequent power fluctuations or surges can damage server hardware components, such as hard drives or memory. These hardware failures can lead to data loss if backups are not in place.
- Interrupted Data Transfers: During data transfers between the server and client devices, sudden internet disruptions or power cuts can interrupt the process. This interruption can corrupt files being transferred or result in incomplete data uploads or downloads.
- Failed Backups: If scheduled backups rely on consistent power and internet connectivity, interruptions in these services can prevent regular backup processes. Without up-to-date backups, data recovery becomes challenging in case of data loss.
- Database Corruption: Databases, which store dynamic website content and user data, are particularly susceptible to corruption when power or connectivity issues occur during write operations. This corruption can render databases unusable and lead to data loss.
Expertise Gap
Essential Expertise Areas for a Hosting Company:
- Technical Proficiency
- Web Development and Design
- Security Expertise
- Legal and Compliance Knowledge
- Data Center Management
- Proficiency in Server Hardware
- Operating Systems
- Networking
- Web Hosting Software
- Server Resources
The expertise required to create and operate a web hosting company, particularly on the technical side, presents a significant challenge in Lebanon.
While Lebanon boasts a vibrant business community, the specialized knowledge and skills needed for effective server administration, infrastructure management, and cybersecurity are often in short supply.
Lebanese Web Hosting Companies Are Only resellers
As the title suggests, Lebanese web hosting companies are not truly Lebanese web hosting services providers; they are merely resellers of larger hosting companies located outside the country.
How do hosting resellers work?
Hosting resellers work by purchasing hosting services from a larger web hosting provider and then reselling them to their own customers. It’s like renting an apartment and then subletting it to others.
Resellers typically get a hosting plan with a certain amount of server resources (like disk space and bandwidth) from the main hosting provider. They can then create and manage individual hosting accounts for their customers, often using a branded control panel.
They set their own pricing, making it a way to start a hosting business without the need to manage server infrastructure. The main hosting provider takes care of the technical aspects, such as server maintenance and connectivity.
Is it bad to be a hosting reseller?
It’s not bad to be a hosting reseller whether in Lebanon or anywhere in the world, as long as you’re adding value to the service you’re providing, and you’re selling the service for a convenient price.
Lebanese web hosting services are not following the ethical guidelines of reselling. They’re just buying for a cheap price, and selling for a much higher price without adding any value.
Downsides of buying from Lebanese web hosting resellers:
Lack of control
Lebanese web hosting companies, as resellers, might not have direct control over the server environment, which can lead to slower support response times and limited technical expertise in case of issues.
Each time you encounter an issue, the reseller will need to contact the main company and wait for their response regarding your problem. This can be quite time-consuming, which can be especially frustrating when experiencing website downtime.
Overselling server resources
Hosting resellers may oversell server resources, meaning that your website’s performance could suffer when the server becomes overcrowded.
They buy the server space from the parent company, and they provide it as a shared space for you and another customers, which means multiple websites will be using the same server. While this can be acceptable for a certain type of websites, it results in a very bad website and mobile app performance.
This explains why most websites and mobile applications in Lebanon are slow and have bad performance.
Lack of customizations
Another concern is the lack of scalability and customization options, as reseller plans may come with restrictions on features and upgrades.
Each project comes with its own set of requirements, and occasionally, an update to your project may necessitate specific software or server modifications. These modifications cannot be carried out when purchasing from a Lebanese web hosting reseller, as they often lack the authorization to customize the server.
Lack of stability in Lebanese web hosting services
They can sometimes be less stable, potentially leading to abrupt service disruptions or data loss if the reseller faces financial or operational problems.
10x the price
Yes, you’ve read it right. Lebanese web hosting companies are selling hosting services for more than 10x the actual price offered by their parent companies. For example, GoDaddy might be selling certain server for $20 /month, and resellers in Lebanon would price it for $200 or more, without providing any additional value to their clients.
Continue reading, as I added a personal experience with Lebanese web hosting services.
What does it take to become a web hosting reseller in Lebanon?
Just signup for a reseller account in any of the major hosting companies, and you’ll become a reseller.
Yes, it is that easy to become a web hosting reseller
They provide you with everything: from knowledge-base and training to software and technical services.
This explains why all digital marketing agencies and software development companies in Lebanon have a ‘Hosting’ page on their website – Because why not?
My personal experience with Lebanese web hosting companies
As a software engineer, I’ve come across digital agencies and software development companies in Lebanon boasting about their hosting services as if they are competing with major web hosting corporations, when in fact, they are resellers of smaller companies.
I created a mobile app for a public figure through collaboration with a Lebanese software company (as a freelancer). Astonishingly, the client was billed at a rate 26 times higher than the actual monthly cost of the hosting service. This incident in 2017 left me both surprised and incredulous about the business practices in Lebanon.”
These companies often charge extremely high prices because they count on their clients not researching and discovering the truth.
This has happened to me quite frequently, and it’s always disheartening. I often find myself feeling sorry for the clients of these companies because they’re often left in the dark about the true costs and realities of the services they’re getting. It really underscores the importance of transparency and fairness in this industry.
That is why I decided to write this article.
I also strongly advise you to read about Pros and Cons of .LB Domain Name
Exploring Alternatives of Lebanese web hosting companies
If you’re searching for Lebanese web hosting services, however, I strongly advise that you stay away from them and try to find an alternative solution.
Choosing the Right Hosting Solution
To ensure a reliable hosting experience, it’s often advisable to consider purchasing hosting services directly from a reputable hosting provider with a track record of reliability and support.
A lot of them can be found with a simple Google search. Some well-known hosting companies include GoDaddy, Hostinger, BlueHost, HostGator and SiteGround and many other
Also note that choosing the best hosting company depends on your project.
Furthermore, some websites and mobile apps have unique requirements that can be met by specific hosting companies, as not all of them offer the same plans and services.
Can I switch web hosting?
Of course! Your project, whether it’s a website or a mobile application, can be transferred with all of its files to another web hosting company. This process, known as ‘site migration’, involves several key steps.
First of all you need to contact your new hosting provider (the company you are going to transfer you website to) and ask for their help with the process. Then make sure your current web hosting company allows you to access your project’s files and database.
Most web hosting providers help their customers with the website migration process.
How much should you pay for web hosting?
This really depends on your project requirements and the type of hosting you want to buy. But I’m going to list the types of hosting with their average price range:
- Shared Hosting: This is the most basic and affordable type of hosting, where multiple websites share resources on a single server.
Prices typically range from $2 to $15 per month. - Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting: VPS hosting offers more resources and better performance than shared hosting. It’s like having a dedicated section of a server.
Prices for VPS hosting can range from $20 to $100 per month. - Dedicated Hosting: This is where you rent an entire server for your website. It’s the most expensive type of hosting. Dedicated hosting is ideal for large websites with high traffic volumes, requiring extensive resources and security.
Typically ranging from $80 to over $300 per month. - Cloud Hosting: Cloud hosting involves using a network of virtual servers. It’s scalable, meaning you can easily increase resources as needed. The pricing for cloud hosting can vary significantly based on usage.
Generally starts around $10 per month. - Managed WordPress Hosting: Specifically designed for WordPress sites, this hosting includes WordPress-related support, security, and optimizations.
Prices range from $15 to $100+ per month. - Specialty Hosting: This includes hosting services tailored to specific applications or industries, like eCommerce hosting.
The prices can vary greatly depending on the services and support offered.
FAQs
Are Lebanese web hosting companies reliable?
No, Lebanese web hosting companies are actually resellers of bigger companies. They buy from bigger companies and sell you the service for a higher higher price.
Why Web Hosting Companies in Lebanon are not reliable?
- Sudden Power Outages
- Hardware Failures
- Interrupted Data Transfers
- Failed Backups
- Database Corruption
Why you should avoid Lebanese web hosting companies?
Because they’re only resellers of bigger companies. You can simply buy the service directly from the main company for a less price and better quality.
Are Lebanese web hosting services worth it?
No, Lebanese web hosting services are not worth it, as they come with high prices, a lack of control, instability, and a lack of customizations.
Conclusion about Lebanese Web Hosting Companies
Most digital agencies and software companies in Lebanon have added a “Hosting” page to their websites, introducing themselves as Lebanese web hosting services providers. While this can be beneficial for their clients to explore different hosting plans, it can also be misleading, as these are only resellers for larger hosting companies. All they do is subscribe to a hosting company as a reseller and resell the service at a higher price.
While Lebanese tech entrepreneurs are working hard to provide new solutions for the Lebanese market, it is still too early to think of providing in-house web hosting services in Lebanon. This is due to power issues, internet connectivity issues and an expertise gap.
The ultimate solution to this problem is to purchase your own web hosting services from reputable, user-friendly hosting companies and then provide them to your software development provider. This way, you take control of everything, from pricing to server resources.
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