For the First Time: a Cellular Company that does not Provide Reception in Judea and Samaria will be Fined

After a number of incidents occurred that harmed the security of the residents of Judea and Samaria and they were left unable to call for help as a result of a lack of reception on the residents' mobile devices:

The commander of the Central Command, Major General Yehuda Fox, signed sanctions orders last night (Monday) that will allow for the first time the imposition of financial sanctions on the media companies, if they violate their obligations throughout Judea and Samaria, similar to the rest of the country.

The orders, which will enter into force in March 2024 - written after many efforts on the part of the legal advisor of Judea and Samaria, Civil Administration personnel, including a communications headquarters officer unit, will oblige, among other things, the cellular companies to provide consumers with reception and coverage on 95% of Judea and Samaria highways, similar to their obligation in the rest of the country.

Admittedly, in recent months there has been extensive activity by the cellular companies to increase cellular deployment throughout Judea and Samaria, but an increase in pace is still required. In addition, an intensive deployment of optical fibers is being carried out in Judea and Samaria.

Improving cellular coverage and reception along with high-speed Internet all over the country are among the main goals in the work plan of the Ministry of Communications and Civil Administration. Cellular coverage and reception help increase personal security, while maintaining the security of citizens and are at the top of the list of priorities.

Shlomo Karhi, the Minister of Communications, is the one who is leading the mobile reception revolution throughout the country, and in particular in settlements near borders and in Judea and Samaria.