Hebrew Newspaper: Israel Is Still Delayed in the Rollout of 5G Technology

SadaNews Economy Translation - A report by the Hebrew economic newspaper Globes stated on Thursday that Israel is still lagging behind the world in the rollout of 5G technology.

According to the Internet speed index issued by Ookla, Israel ranks 63rd among 104 countries in mobile internet speed.

The newspaper noted, as translated by SadaNews Economy Department, that in order for Israel to transition to 5G technology, government decision number 225 was issued in February 2023, aimed at removing regulatory barriers, accelerating the rollout of advanced telecommunications networks, and creating economic conditions conducive to the widespread use of 5G technologies.

The decision focuses on removing obstacles to the establishment of new cellular sites, encouraging private investment, and developing regulatory mechanisms that contribute to the growth of the cellular communications market.

The decision includes four main sections, three of which have been fully implemented (75%), while the fourth section has been partially implemented (25%). Although the level of implementation appears high at first glance, a detailed review reveals a more complex picture, as the relevant authorities have failed to allocate 50 million shekels for the project.

According to the newspaper, as translated by SadaNews Economy Department, the budget was withdrawn from the ministry to fund war needs, and in 2025, the ministry received half of the amount (25 million shekels) to encourage local authorities to set up antennas in their areas. To implement the budget, the ministry launched a call for applications to the local authorities, which received a strong response, as about 80 local authorities submitted their applications.

It was pointed out that the decision remains only on paper and has not been implemented, making Israel significantly lag behind.

It appears that the Israeli Ministry of Communications lacks sufficient data to determine whether companies can provide the necessary coverage and quality of service. It also does not conduct a systematic study of the number of broadcast facilities missing, their rollout rate, or their impact on reception quality. As a result, there is a significant gap between the official picture presented by the ministry and the reality lived by Israelis on the ground.

It has become clear that Israel lacks sufficient scientific and professional foundation to assess the health risks associated with the rollout of advanced cellular infrastructure.

The newspaper noted that accurate and proper implementation of the plan as prepared requires a major infrastructure update with each generational transition, enabling more advanced services and an improved user experience.

It pointed out that the most advanced 5G networks can achieve substantial performance improvements compared to previous generations, which is what Israelis currently demand.