Palestinians in the West Bank have started receiving 3G mobile telecommunications services, after years of wrangling with the Israeli authorities.
The Jawwal and Wataniya firms have begun offering the service to their customers, with Palestinians seeing the option appear on their phones for the first time.
A Palestinian woman uses her mobile phone to take a family picture, illustrative (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)
In blocking 3G for years, Israel has cited security concerns. Officials suggest, for example, that high-speed mobile data could make it easier for Palestinian terrorists to communicate while reducing the risk of Israeli surveillance.
The ban on 3G remains in place in the Gaza Strip.
Third generation services were originally launched around the world in the early 2000s, and much of the world already has 4G technology, while 5G is expected in the next year.
— with AFP
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