Gaza Strip Communications - 2021

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 472,293 (includes the West Bank); (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (includes the West Bank); (July 2016 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 4,135,363 (includes the West Bank)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (includes the West Bank) (2017 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Israel has final say in allocating frequencies in the Gaza Strip and does not permit anything beyond a 2G network (2018)

domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed-line services; the Palestinian JAWWAL company provides cellular services; a slow 2G network allows calls and limited data transmission; fixed-line 9 per 100 and mobile-cellular 76 per 100 (includes West Bank)

international: country code 970 or 972 (2018)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Broadcast media

1 TV station and about 10 radio stations; satellite TV accessible

Internet country code

.psnote - same as the West Bank

Internet users

total: 2.673 million (includes the West Bank)

percent of population: 57.4% (July 2016 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 320,500

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2016 est.)

note: includes West Bank