Nablus, Dr. Sabri Saidam, Minister of ICT in the Palestinian National Authority and other High-level government officials visited Palestine Telecommunication Company premises in Nablus. The visit is considered a step in the cooperation efforts between the two parties.

Minister and official delegation met with Dr. Abdul Malik Jaber, CEO of Paltel, and other administrative and technical staff to improve coordination efforts between the Ministry and Paltel. Both parties discussed future plans to improve Information Technology services in Palestine in general. Minister conducted a familiarization tour where he visited Palestine Telecommunication Company’s different sections and departments.

In his speech, Dr. Saidam thanked Paltel employees and congratulated them for the tremendous efforts they pay and on their achievements. He added that “a lot is still to be achieved during the coming weeks as part of the new projects that are still in the pipeline for approval. Through you, I wish that the information technology sector would develop and that all obstacles will be removed”. He added that “I wish that these achievements of Palestine Telecommunication Company will affect the Palestinian Society. These achievements would constitute practical steps in solving the problems facing the private sector institutions”.

Dr. Jaber welcomed the Minister and thanked him for this initiative to visit Palestine Telecommunication Company and get updated on its work, plans and development vis-à-vis the telecommunication sector. He added that recent developments in the information technology sector and coordination between the Ministry and Palestine Telecommunication Company are of great value and must continue. Dr. Jaber added: “we are proud to have this cadre of young Palestinians workers to lead the technology efforts in Palestine and to compete with other international experts in the field. Paltel employees manage to provide a high quality service to Palestine.”

Dr. Jaber said that Palestine Telecommunication Company would be pleased to cooperate with the Ministry to adopt and support vital Broad Band projects such as the project of linking the Palestinian universities to the internet service. In addition to providing universities with new technology that improves the quality of education. He said that “this initiative is a modest present from Palestine Telecommunication Company to students and to Palestine”.

Dr. Jaber submitted a proposal to support the establishment of a government network in case Palestine Telecommunication Company is accredited for work. He added that: “there is a huge investment and we have a cadre of specialized calibers and infrastructure. We are ready to put this infrastructure under the use of the government to meet all of its need vis-à-vis information technology”.

Dr. Saidam said: “on the occasion of the Day of Land, we would like to assure that the unification of this land is materialized not only through the geographical unity rather through the unification waves and the coverage of all the Palestinian areas. Dr. Jaber in his turn mentioned that Palestine Telecommunication Company intends to expand its services to remote areas this year.

Dr. Jaber added that it is important to have an administrative and monitoring regulatory association for the telecommunication and information technology sector. He said: “we are concerned about having an administrative and monitoring regulatory body to guarantee the development of the telecommunication and the information technology sector and raise it up to an international level of quality for competitiveness”. 

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Saidam said that: “the Ministry will work on over coming all the obstacles within its frame of responsibilities”. Saidam added that the Israeli Occupation did not allow the Ministry to control over and make use of the air traffic control towers.

Jabber added: “we are facing many changes and through collaboration we hope to be able to achieve a real leap in the field of Telecommunication. I am confident that Palestine Telecommunication Company and its staff are ready to work under the supervision of the Ministry to achieve quality results. We are ready to take daring decisions for we believe that Palestine Telecommunication Company can assume its responsibilities”.