Palestinian Authority Presses Israel to Release Radio Spectrum

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is pushing Israel to release long-delayed radio spectrum so that its second mobile network operator can start services. Last month, Wataniya Palestine demanded its license fee back after it had been constantly blocked from launching its network.

To settle the issue, Palestinian officials held contacts with Israel to meet under the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) "to try toreach an agreement of releasing the frequencies and allowing the company to start operations," said Bassem Khoury, the Palestinian minister.

The Joint Economic Committee was set up in 1994 to try and settle disputes between the two governments over trade and business issues.

The Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology (MTIT) awarded a GSM/3G license to Wataniya in 2006, after it agreed to pay JD251 million (US$354 million).

Middle East envoy, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has also reportedly pressed Israel to release the frequencies, as a way to jumpstart the Palestinian economy and boost support for Mahmoud Abbas and his Western-backed government in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Posted to the site on 6th July 2009