Telecom Services in Israel: Basic Cellular ILD

Fixed and Cellular
Israel has 3 million direct exchange lines, using a 100 percent digital network. Early this year, the cable companies were granted licenses to provide access to fast Internet on cable infrastructure. There are about 5.3 million cellular telephone subscribers in Israel, translating to 82 percent penetration, a growth of more than one million subscribers over year 2000 and compared to only 125,000 subscribers in January 1995. This rapid growth was achieved by providing nationwide coverage, low tariffs, the introduction of calling party pays (CPP) method in 1994, network quality, and effective marketing.

There are four cellular operators in Israel. One operator uses NAMPS and CDMA, the second operator uses IS-136 TDMA technology and is going to deploy a second, GSM network, while the third operator, uses GSM technology. The fourth one uses the iDEN ESMR technology.

Tenders have been concluded for licenses for additional 2G and 3G cellular frequency bands, to expand network capacities and enable use of broadband cellular applications employing DCS-1800 and UMTS technologies. A total of 115 MHz has been assigned to those parties at a total price of about $240 million . The new frequencies will enable the operators to provide modern services, from the beginning of 2002, and 3rd Generation features from 2004.

International Long Distance
ILD services were first a government monopoly of Bezeq. In July 1997, two privately owned carriers, Golden Lines and Barak, were also licensed. The three operators deliver services over a modern digital network, including several switching facilities incorporating advanced intelligent network infrastructure. Lev, a 5 Gbps fiber cable between Israel, Cyprus and Italy, is in service since 1998, and MED Nautilus, a 3.84 Tbps DWDM system in restorable ring configuration between Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece and Italy. MedNet, is a 1,500 km domestic DWDM system, based on a combination of coastal submarine cables and land cables

Telecom Services in Israel: Internet Broadcasting Satellites