75% of Gaza's telecom infrastructure severely damaged, report finds

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
29 Oct 2024 23:19

Only 30% of communication towers are operational, leaving over 718,000 students without access to virtual learning and cutting off families from essential services.

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Palestinians check a building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the city of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP)

A recent report by the Arab Centre for the Advancement of Social Media, 7amleh, has shed light on the catastrophic damage to Gaza's telecommunications infrastructure due to the ongoing Israeli aggressions, significantly disrupting communication access for Gaza's residents.

According to WAFA, approximately 75% of Gaza's telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged, with 50% fully destroyed.

Initial assessments by Palestine Telecommunications Company (Paltel) and Ooredoo, shared by the Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, estimate the reconstruction costs at $90 million as of early 2024.

Since October 2023, communications in Gaza have been cut off nearly 15 times, impeding emergency response, family connections, and access to reliable news sources.

Currently, only 30% of communication towers are operational, leaving over 718,000 students without access to virtual learning and cutting off families from essential services.

📢7amleh 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… pic.twitter.com/0sSSJGQUc9
— 7amleh حملة (@7amleh) October 29, 2024]

Ongoing struggles

Local telecommunications companies face immense challenges, including fuel shortages and power outages, which make maintaining even limited services difficult.

The report by 7amleh stresses that these conditions have been exacerbated by forced displacement, which has placed additional strain on the few remaining communication networks.

Some residents have sought alternatives, such as foreign e-SIM cards or limited satellite internet, but these solutions come with high costs and geographic restrictions.

The report calls for urgent international intervention to end hostilities and facilitate the entry of fuel and equipment necessary to rebuild Gaza's telecom sector.

7amleh also noted that communication access is a fundamental human right, referencing Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and advocates for the entry of satellite services and the removal of barriers to Palestinians' right to information and expression during crises.

The report presents two rebuilding scenarios: an immediate restoration of critical services through temporary solutions, and a long-term reconstruction plan that would introduce 4G and 5G technologies, supported by international and private sector investment.

The organization urged the global community to support these efforts to ensure Gaza's resilience and communication access in the face of the ongoing genocide.