7amleh issues new report on impact of war on Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure

The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, has released its new report, “Gaza Telecommunications Infrastructure: Assessment to Damages and Humanitarian Impact,” which highlights the extensive damage and humanitarian impact caused by the ongoing war and genocide in Gaza since 7 October last year.

The telecommunications sector has experienced widespread destruction, significantly affecting the lives of citizens in Gaza and disrupting essential services. According to initial assessments by Palestine Telecommunications Company (Paltel) group and Ooredoo, published by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy of the State of Palestine, 75% of Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged, with at least 50% completely destroyed.

This has resulted in repeated disruptions to communication and internet services, with the first complete outage occurring on 29 October last year. Communications services have been cut off at least 15 times during a year of devastation, according to a p
revious report by 7amleh.

The new report provides detailed insights into the damage inflicted on communication towers and the fiber optic infrastructure responsible for providing internet services, with an estimated cost of $90 million by March 2024. Currently, only 30% of the communication towers and infrastructure components are operational.

The report also sheds light on the challenges faced by local telecommunications companies, which rely heavily on diesel generators to keep services running due to fuel shortages and power outages. This reliance is a temporary and inefficient solution due to restrictions on fuel and equipment imports, hampering efforts to repair the destroyed infrastructure.

The damage has been exacerbated by waves of forced displacement, increasing pressure on shelters and functional communication networks in these areas, and making it difficult to maintain contact with the outside world. Citizens are no longer able to call emergency services, communicate with relatives, or access th
e few remaining reliable sources of information, especially after the closure of broadcasting stations and the targeting of local journalists since the start of the Israeli attacks.

In these harsh conditions, some residents have resorted to using e-SIM cards from foreign telecommunications companies to stay connected. Satellite internet services like Starlink were only used in a limited capacity in one hospital in Gaza. However, these solutions face challenges related to high costs and limited geographic coverage, in addition to the need for Israeli approval to provide these services, restricting their use to specific areas with limited capabilities.

In light of the humanitarian and economic challenges caused by the ongoing war on Gaza, the report reaches important conclusions and recommendations regarding the impact of the conflict on the telecommunications sector. Findings indicate that rebuilding this sector requires a comprehensive approach that meets the urgent and basic needs of residents in the short
term, while also planning for long-term reconstruction to ensure the development of a resilient and sustainable infrastructure. The report proposes two scenarios: the first focuses on the immediate response to urgent needs and the restoration of communication services through temporary solutions, while the second addresses long-term reconstruction through significant investments in 4G and 5G technologies, supported by the international community and the private sector.

7amleh called for urgent international intervention to stop the war and genocide and to contribute to rebuilding Gaza’s telecommunications sector, which serves as a vital lifeline for citizens in these catastrophic humanitarian conditions. We affirm that communication is a fundamental human right, ensuring freedom of expression and access to information, especially during crises, as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

‘We demand the entry of fuel and necessary equipment to fully and sustainably restore services,
and urge the relevant authorities to facilitate the introduction of modern technologies, including satellite services, without restrictions that undermine Palestinians’ rights to communication and access to information,’ said 7amleh in a statement.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA