World Bank urges opening up of Palestinian telecoms

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

JERUSALEM (AFP) — The World Bank on Wednesday urged an opening up of the Palestinian telecommunications sector, saying this would yield far-reaching benefits to the overall economy.

It also lamented that Israel had failed to free up frequencies for the second Palestininian mobile operator, Wataniya, preventing it from beginning to compete with the Jawwal unit of PalTel, which currently has a monopoly.

"Improved efficiency brought about through competition will reduce the cost of doing business in all sectors, lower the cost of telecommunications services to consumers and help increase government revenues," said a statement issued in Jerusalem.

Also, by developing the capacity to regulate the largest monopoly in the West Bank and Gaza and spur competition,...