Feature: Palestinians inch closer to have 3G services

Smart phones are very popular in Palestine, yet Palestinians are unable to use the full capacity of their gadgets because they are not allowed to have third generation (3G) coverage in the region. But, this may change in a short time.

Israel, which occupies Palestinian territories and controls the borders, is still refusing to give Palestinian cellular companies the frequencies needed to have 3G services or the approval to import 3G equipment. Palestinians say Israel uses security and economic excuses.

Yet, news broke out of a progress in the negotiations carried out between the Palestinians and Israelis through a technical committee formed in 2009. The news was widely shared among Palestinians who expressed joy that they are closer to joining the rest of the world.

Palestinian mobile companies offer some 2G service packages, a technology as old as in the 1990s.

"Palestine might be the only country without 3G or 4G services, we are still using the old 2G service and that created a big gap between Palestinians and the neighboring countries, including Israel when it comes to telecommunications and IT," Allam Mousa, Palestinian telecommunications minister, told Xinhua.

Of about 4.5 million Palestinian population, official data says the numbers of mobile phone subscribers reached 3.1 million. More than half of Palestinian households own a smart phone.

Aref Hanaysheh, a manager at a software development company in the West Bank city of Ramallah, told Xinhua that many of his potential ideas are shutdown because of the 3G issue.

"One of my ideas was to let customers know of potential discounts when they pass by a certain store using location services but I can't do it," he added.

Hanaysheh explained that many local entrepreneurs don't have offices and run from one place to another for business.

"In our country, people can't check emails or make internet-based calls from public places, busses or streets and many of them have to find an office or restaurant to make a call through the internet," he said.

With the wifi being the only way to connect to internet, restaurants and entertainment venues in Palestine know that providing free wifi is a key factor bringing customers.

Despite everybody's waiting for the good news about 3G services, Palestinian ministry of telecommunications doesn't show much optimism.

"There has been a breakthrough in the negotiations but we didn't reach a final decision yet. We think this is our right and we will continue working on it," Mousa told Xinhua.

Palestine has an observer body status at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The Palestinian leadership stressed that when the time comes, the ITU would be one of the main organizations they would apply.

"The Israeli occupation is the main obstacle behind Palestinians' access to 3G, and the Israelis never give us satisfying answers, but we won't spare any effort to help our people gain their rights," said Mousa. Endit