The Spectrum Bottleneck

How denial of 4G/5G spectrum access creates a permanent competitive disadvantage while Israeli operators expand freely in Palestinian territories

Data Source: ITU Resolution 12, Palestinian Digital Economy Reports (2021-2025)

Spectrum Access Inequality

Israeli Operators

538
MHz Total Access
Technology 4G/5G Enabled
Coverage Expanding in West Bank
Restrictions None

Palestinian Operators

0
MHz 4G/5G Access
Technology 3G Only (WB), 2G (Gaza)
Coverage Shrinking Market Share
Restrictions 4G/5G Denied
Israeli: 538 MHz
Palestinian: 0 MHz (4G/5G)

Spectrum Requirements vs Reality

205
MHz Needed
For Israeli settlements in West Bank
300+
MHz Could Be Allocated
To Palestinian operators under ITU guidelines
0
MHz Actually Allocated
4G/5G licensing remains stalled

Technology Gap Timeline

2018
West Bank gets 3G
Gaza still restricted to 2G
2021-23
4G Licensing Discussions
No progress, ITU Resolution 12 unimplemented
2024-25
Active Suppression
Palestinian 4G stalled while Israeli networks expand in West Bank

Connectivity Speed Disparity

Fixed Broadband

Average Speed (2021) 16.3 Mbps
Median Speed (2024) 63.48 Mbps
✓ Significant improvement in fixed-line West Bank networks

Mobile Broadband

Average Speed (2021) 7.1 Mbps
Technology 3G/2G Only
✗ Among lowest speeds in the region due to technology restrictions

Gaza: From 2G to Zero

2G
Pre-conflict restriction
75%
Infrastructure destroyed
30%
Towers operational (Oct 2024)
Gaza's telecommunications were already the most restricted globally (2G only since blockade began). The 2023-25 conflict has now systematically destroyed what little infrastructure existed, with equipment blockades preventing any reconstruction since March 2025.

Market Competitive Suppression

Palestinian Operators

  • ✗ Cannot offer 4G/5G services
  • ✗ Losing customers to Israeli networks
  • ✗ Limited to aging 3G infrastructure
  • ✗ Cannot compete on speed or quality
  • ✗ 43% decline in ICT establishments (2024)

Israeli Operators in West Bank

  • ✓ Full 4G/5G deployment
  • ✓ Accelerating tower construction
  • ✓ No licensing delays or restrictions
  • ✓ Premium speeds and service quality
  • ✓ Capturing Palestinian market share

Key Insight

The spectrum bottleneck is not merely a technical limitation—it is a tool of competitive suppression. While Palestinian operators are denied 4G/5G licensing, Israeli competitors freely expand their networks in Palestinian territories, creating a permanent structural advantage that threatens the long-term viability of Palestinian telecommunications providers.

ITU Resolution 12 (Unimplemented)
International Telecommunication Union Resolution 12 calls for Palestinian access to spectrum, including frequencies for advanced mobile services. Over a decade later, this resolution remains unimplemented, while the competitive disadvantage grows exponentially with each passing year of 4G/5G denial.