Israel has approved an upgrade to fourth-generation (4G) mobile services for Palestinians in the West Bank, the Israeli Communications Ministry said on Tuesday.
The ministry confirmed that the two Palestinian mobile operators, Jawwal and Ooredoo, along with Swedish telecom equipment provider Ericsson, have signed management agreements that received Israeli approval on Sunday.
Palestinian cellular providers first launched high-speed mobile data services based on 3G technology in the occupied West Bank in 2018, narrowing a long-standing technological gap with Israel after years of restrictions on local 3G operations.
According to the ministry, the approval forms part of a 2022 framework agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that aims to enable the introduction of both 4G and 5G cellular technologies. Israeli media reported that implementation of the agreement had been delayed by the Gaza war, adding that the transition to 4G services could take up to six months.
Palestinian operators compete with Israeli mobile companies, which already provide faster services using advanced 5G frequencies. Israel is currently phasing out older 2G and 3G networks and has advised consumers to shift to devices compatible with 4G and 5G technologies.
In contrast, Gaza continues to rely solely on 2G mobile networks.
