Palestine programme to spread Internet use soon Dubai |By A Staff Reporter | 23-01-2002
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=38659
Despite Israeli annoyances and financial restrictions, Palestine will soon start the 'Computer for Every Home' programme, to spread the use of Internet.
Imad Al Falouji, Palestinian Minister of Post and Communi-cations, attended the two-day OECD Dubai 2002 conference that concluded yesterday.
The meet focused on regulatory reforms for the improvement of telecommunications, the challenges of introducing competition for non-OECD countries and its role in reducing the digital divide and the liberalisation of telecom markets.
OECD Dubai 2003 will be held next year, but the topic will be decided in accordance with crucial regional issues, said Ahmed bin Byat, chief executive officer of Dubai Internet City.
Al Falouji estimated last year's telecom losses in Palestine due to Israeli assaults at around $20 million.
"Israel had prevented the entry of modern telecom equipment to Palestinian Authority-run zones. "Labourers were prevented from going to work and many could not pay their phone bills. Palestine then incurred 30 per cent decline in revenues," the minister said.
After the Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian-run lands, the authority inherited a ruined telecom network.
"We have more than 200,000 phone subscribers now on the waiting list. Palestine also has 12 Internet service providers."
"To meet Palestinians' demand for phones and save the situation, an emergency plan was drawn. It included training technical staff because the Israelis had not allowed Palestinians to develop during the occupation of the areas."
The Palestinian Telecom Co, Paltel, said Al Falouji, undertook the burden of implementing the plan and has succeeded in rebuilding the network and linking all Palestinian cities.
Jawal was established though the second phase had difficulties. Israeli annoyances have extended to distorting Jawal network to impose the use of its own GSM network.
"Israeli companies still break international laws and work illegally by marketing their equipment to Palestinians and transmitting their frequencies to distort Palestinian frequencies," said Al Falouji.
"We have complained about these practices, but the Israelis still do them."
Meanwhile, Dr. Tim Kelly, International Telecommunica-tion Union's (ITU) head of strategy and policy unit, said there were ten top telecom performers between 1990 to 2000. They were chosen on the basis of an improvement in ranking.
By total teledensity, they were China, Vietnam, Hungary, Botswana, Jamaica, El Salvador, Mauritius, Chile, Portugal and Philippines.
Kelly said there were some basic ingredients for the success of the telecom industry. These included competition, private sector participation and independent regulation.
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=38659
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