Israel Approves 4G Mobile Upgrade for Palestinians in West Bank

Post by : Saif Nasser

Israel has given approval for Palestinian mobile operators in the West Bank to upgrade their networks to fourth-generation (4G) mobile services. This move was announced on Tuesday by the Israeli Communications Ministry and marks an important step in improving connectivity for Palestinians.

The two main Palestinian cellular providers, Jawwal and Ooredoo, signed agreements with Swedish infrastructure company Ericsson to manage the network upgrade. Israel approved these agreements on Sunday, allowing the transition to begin.

Palestinian networks initially launched high-speed 3G services in the West Bank in 2018, after a long ban on local 3G networks. The 4G approval comes under a framework deal agreed upon in 2022 between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which also includes the future introduction of 5G technology. The upgrade process is expected to take up to six months.

Currently, Palestinian providers compete with Israeli firms that already offer faster 5G services. Israel is gradually shutting down older 2G and 3G networks and has advised users to switch to devices compatible with 4G and 5G to ensure uninterrupted service.

This 4G approval is seen as a significant step in narrowing the technological gap between Palestinian and Israeli mobile services. It will improve internet speeds, enhance communication, and support economic and social development for residents in the West Bank.

While the upgrade will not immediately match Israel’s 5G speeds, it is expected to provide more reliable and faster connectivity for Palestinians for both personal and business use.

The move reflects ongoing efforts to modernize the region’s digital infrastructure and maintain technological progress, even amid political and security challenges.