Palestinian telecommunication (PALTEL) launched a new shaped ADSL service for ADSL subscribers of home users, where subscribers became able to benefit from increased speed of service & reduced rates during Expotech activities which kicked off in Grand Park Hotel in Ramallah.

In a speech addressed by Minister of Telecommunication and Information Technology,Dr. Mashhoor Abu Duqqah, he blessed PALTEL for reduced  rates of ADSL service and doubled speed, and he laid stress on his support for such initiatives in order to serve citizens and achieve interest. He also stressed on internet service to be available within reach for every house against low cost and reasonable speed.
He laid stress on saying that (PALTEL) is a big company and will be so. He called for opening of communication grid and internet, overseeing licenses and use of communication and telecommunication grids. He said that he is looking forward to attract investments to this sector and laid stress by saying that the ministry supports fighting exploiters of internet service illegally which slows down the internet.
The minister denoted that (PALTEL) new campaign and limiting of load speed are a big evidence of handling slowness of web by the company and said “We in the Ministry of Telecommunication bless and support this step”.

General Manager of (PALTEL), engineer Mohannad Al-Heajawi declared by saying “We are pleased to participate with this Palestinian Technological phenomena which became an important title of beautiful portrait of homeland reflected by our sons. When we are available, today, from all information technology of homeland, a bright civilized picture of Palestine is reflected and, in order to increase its brightness, we have to press ranks and join hands to keep Palestine always as focus of all and in the field of technology updates as well.

He added by saying “Launch of new shaped ADSL service is brought first by grace of Ministry of Telecommunication & Palestinian Authority in the interest of public, in frame of sustained will of the ministry to enable public to obtain best services against suitable rates and reassurance of protecting rights of service providers against playing havoc with the service or the web by abusers of service. We have joint objects with Ministry of Telecommunications and they are represented in seeking to increase percentage of ADSL availability in Palestine”.

Mr. Al-Heajawi reaffirmed that (PALTEL) thoroughly and fundamentally cooperates with ISPs providers of service, in an attempt to limit infringement on their commercial rights by those few individuals who resale ADSL service from their houses without licenses or commercial permits, constituting an illegal competition for legitimate licensed owners of service sale, leading to feeding of illegal earning and weakening service and web of subscribing neighbors. We also ask citizens to be careful when he/she gets domestic ADSL service and to make sure not to buy the service from unlicensed neighbor because he/she will become vulnerable for the policy of limiting capacity, meanwhile he/she can enjoy the service against reduced rates & doubled speeds needless for worry and feel of guilt so as to increase awareness and go round illegal providers of service. We believe in importance of development action which starts from scratch, and takes off upward gradually in order to provide a Palestinian web more effective in giving service to the Palestinian citizen. We worked quietly and relied on efficiency of our employees & technical teams .We also traced most updates of technological means in the world until we composed a solid ground for our web. I reassure you today that we will continue this approach, we will also build the service in order to provide the best”. He laid stress by saying that the service will be implemented for all subscribers as of now up to the end of the year.

Mr.Rami Shamshoum, Chief Commercial Officer  in (PALTEL) details of the campaign by saying “The service is characterized  by reduced rates of ADSL and increased speeds “doubled speed” in addition to provision of new speed up to 2Megbite(2Meg), stemming from giving a chance for our subscribers to enjoy ADSL service and benefit from  current doubled increased speed, free of charge”. Mr. Shamshoum explained that if a current subscriber of a service has a speed of 256Kb/s, this speed will be increased for free to be 512Kb/s , with a higher downloading up to 10 Gigabytes. In addition to new rates of service which varies depending on speed, ADSL cost, for example, became 256Kbps according to the new offer 70 Shekel which was 99 Shekel before. He added a subscriber will be free as a result of multiple options of high speed downloading sizes that fit needs.

Mr.Shamshoum said that as of today, internet in Palestine is considered one of developed Arabic markets because it makes the service available for all with high quality, acceptable and competitive rates. He reassured that new rates of ADSL service in Palestine are cheap compared with surrounding countries like Jordan. For example, cost of ADSL service of 128 Kbps in Palestine is 60 Shekel, while the same speed costs 77.85 Shekel in Jordan.

Mr. Shamshoum denoted that wrong and selfish use of internet was noticed in the past by few subscribers who used it nonstop round the hour at very high speeds. In addition, they exploited it for commercial purposes in terms of illegally reselling internet service and downloading of films that exceeded 60 films per month, leading to slowness of internet and taking over rights of other subscribers to benefit from internet. Therefore, we made and implemented policy of fair use for all ADSL users through adding a special limit of downloading size proportionate with subscribers’ usage.

He reaffirmed that by this fair method, all will be able to use internet and we will do our best to limit the 9% percentage of subscribers who control the web and prevent citizens from benefiting from speeds.

Mr.Shamshoum pointed out that (PALTEL) continuously seeks with cooperation with ADSL service providers to improve internet quality of service  and works hard to terminate all problems may face and affects getting into internet. (PALTEL) seeks fundamentally to contribute in satisfaction of ADSL subscribers and to provide a Palestinian web which is more effective and improved to serve the Palestinian citizen.