Palestine (consisting of theGaza Strip and theWest Bank) has access toTelephone,Radio,Television, andInternet services; however, it significantly trails behind global standards in these sectors.[1] The communications landscape in the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip is hindered by several challenges, including restrictions from theOslo Accords, which limit the use of spectrum frequencies for wireless communication withoutIsraeli approval. Consequently, this has obstructed the introduction of modern technology into the Palestinian territories.
Through persistent negotiations,Palestine secured third-generation wireless communication frequencies, known as3G, but this advancement is only available in theWest Bank. In contrast,Gaza remains constrained to2G Technology.[2] The constraints imposed by theOslo Accords Are only part of the broader framework governing the telecommunications industry in Palestine. Additional regulations, such as the Palestinian Telecommunications Law and various international agreements, further shape this sector.
The data clearly illustrates howPalestine lags behind its neighboring countries, primarily due to the impacts of the Israeli occupation and the restrictions imposed on acquiring advanced technology from around the world. The control over Palestine's spectrum frequencies stifles its potential for growth in the communications sector.
The Palestinian telecommunications sector comprises a mix of public and private companies that provide fixed-line, mobile, and internet services.[3] Three main companies dominate the sector:
Internet connectivity in Palestine is largely delivered through a combination of fixed-line and mobile networks. While broadband access is available, the Palestinian territories still experience lower average internet speeds compared to neighboring regions, largely due to the absence of advanced mobile networks and restrictions on equipment and frequencies.[5]
TV and Radio stations are run by two main entities, thePalestinian Broadcasting Corporation andHamas. ThePBC operatesVoice of Palestine radio, Palestine TV, andPalestine Satellite Channel. WhileHamas operatesAl-Aqsa TV andAl-Aqsa Voice radio, there are also dozens of other private broadcasters. Pan-ArabFree-to-air TV is also popular, where users access channels such as Qatar'sAl Jazeera channel.[8]
On October 1, 1999, the International Telecommunication Union assigned Palestine the call block E4A through E4Z. Aircraft tail numbers, amateur radio stations, vessels at sea, and other radio facilities licensed by the Palestinian Authority will carry call signs beginning with "E4."[9]
Digital technology in the Palestinian territories has expanded methods of government control. Repression now operates through surveillance, censorship, and harassment online. Digital tools enable faster and broader monitoring of communication, often serving as a precursor to arrests or other punitive actions. Similar to trends seen worldwide, digital repression in the Palestinian territories reflects a hybrid model in which online and offline controls are combined, contributing to self-censorship and restrictions on free expression.[10]
In 2008,OpenNet stated, "Access to the Internet in the Palestinian territories remains relatively open, although social filtering of sexually explicit content has been implemented in Gaza. Internet in the West Bank remains almost entirely unfiltered, save for a single news Website that was banned for roughly six months starting in late 2008. Media freedom is constrained in Gaza and the West Bank by the political upheaval and internal conflict as well as by the Israeli forces."[11]
On 23 April 2012,EFF published a list of websites censored by some Palestinian ISPs.[12] That same day, theTor Project announced that they were witnessing politically motivated censorship inBethlehem.[13]
In May 2012, theMa'an news agency claimed "The Palestinian Authority has quietly instructed Internet providers to block access to news websites whose reporting is critical of President Mahmoud Abbas."[14]
Palestine Post is responsible for providing postal service inthe West Bank, while theMinistry of Telecom and Information Technology of the State of Palestine is responsible for postal service in theGaza Strip. Generally, international letters addressed to the West Bank are routed through both Jordan and Israel, and international letters addressed toGaza are routed through only Israel. Delays often happen during the sending and receiving of letters from Palestine. Without these two national postal authorities, no international courier service would be serving the areas.[citation needed]
During theGaza war, telecommunications company Paltel kept its networks online for most of the first six weeks. The company has anetwork operations center inRamallah,West Bank. As of 2023, Paltel has 750 staff in Gaza, and they perform maintenance tasks such as repairing and refueling generators when an outage is detected. Five Paltel staff have been killed in the conflict. Paltel networks are essential for coordinating emergency services and humanitarian aid, and for documenting conditions inside Gaza.[15]
In response to previous wars in Gaza, Paltel has made preparations and has many contingencies to help keep its networks online. It buries its cables very deep (up to 26 feet) and has multiple power sources available, such as batteries, solar panels, and generators. Ultimately, Paltel is reliant on Israel, because its two main fiber optic cables pass through Israel. Israel has turned off telecommunications by interfering with these cables twice before.[15]
On November 3, 2023, theBBC World Service launched anemergency radio service for Gaza,[16] broadcasting on long-rangeAM from theBritish East Mediterranean Relay Station, to "provide listeners in Gaza with the latest information and developments as well as safety advice on where to access shelter, food and water supplies".[17]
On November 16, 2023, due to fuel shortages, Internet and telephone services went down in Gaza. This also resulted in a suspension of humanitarian aid convoys because humanitarian agencies could not communicate.[18] On November 18, services were partially restored after some fuel was allowed in and allocated to telecommunications.[19] On November 21, an Israeli strike against a telecommunications tower in North Gaza led to a telecommunications blackout in that area.[20]
An organization calledConnecting Humanity provides internet access to people inGaza using donatedeSIMs, allowing them to connect to networks outside of Gaza.[21][22][23] By December 2023 200,000 people living in Gaza (around 10% of the population) had received internet access through an eSIM.[24][25][26]
As of August 2024, according to a Palestinian source, over 70% of telecommunications have been rendered inoperable.[27] As of June 2025, Paltel is still providing some internet and landline telephone services in southern Gaza.[27] There have been at least 10 outages since the conflict began.[27] The lack of reliable telecommunications has hampered efforts by first responders and humanitarian groups.[27]
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromThe World Factbook.CIA.