The Legal Framework of Internet in Palestine
Adv. Haytham explained the Subscription Free Internet SFI, entered into force on 01/01/2005, with the MTIT. SFI will provide special access number (i.e. 010 800 800) in which users can call from anywhere in Palestine without any subscription requirements for 1,59 NIS, taxes included, per hour. This call will be charged directly to the end users phone bill. They also emphasized the fact that the first three minutes must be free as a dialing up attempt, which was not included in the first system.
Adv. stipulated that the MTIT viewpoint is that through this way the internet will be cheaper, faster and more accessible to everybody with a phone line, which will indeed double the number of users in the Palestinian territories and thus contribute in the development of Palestine. Furthermore, in order to help each house to use the internet, the MTIT has agreed with Paltel that the latter provides each house the opportunity to buy a PC and pay its value over a year period through the telephone bill (a PS for every House’s Initiative).
Mr. Tareq explained the ISPs position. The ISPs’ position was that the internet is a very important service and essential to the development of the Palestinian economy and society and thus no one company should monopolize it. In order to satisfy the ISPs, Paltel has agreed with the Palestinian Information Technology Association (PITA), which includes all the ISPs to sell these companies 180 internet lines. Then, the ISPs can market these lines in the internet market and compete with each other accordingly. Finally, he mentioned that the ISPs have agreed with Paltel that the latter will transfer to the internet providers 30% of the collected fees.
With regard to users, Mr. Omar stated that some were happy with the agreement since it was proven that SFI is easier, faster and most importantly cheaper than the old system. On the other hand, others were unhappy for that the SFI is a good system but in its present form, it would lead to the monopoly of the Palestinian internet market. It would have been better for Paltel to reduce the internet prices to the ISPs for the latter to reduce their internet service to the users. This system would have kept competition between the ISPs. On the other hand, the SFI will not contribute in the development of the internet service in Palestine for that it depends on the dial-up system, which is old, slow and inefficient. Paltel will not find a reason to introduce other better services such as ADSL, cables, Wireless connection and others. The number of participants was 47.
