Palestinian telecom co claims losses

Paltel CEO estimates that the damage to the communications networks in Gaza amounted to $10 million.

The Palestinian communications network was badly damaged by the IDF military operation in Gaza. Palestine Telecommunication Company Ltd. (PalTel) CEO Dr. Abdul-Malik Al Jabar estimates that the damage amounted to $10 million. Al Jabar told "Globes" that in addition to the damage to property, five employees were killed during Israel Air Force bombing of the company's communications and fuel installations.

According to Jabar, a large part of the switching network was completely destroyed and bombing killed three employees of the company in the Jebalya neighborhood of Gaza City, and two more in Khan Yunis. He explained that the damage was caused at all levels from hits on the switching network, the destruction of buildings that served the company, the complete destruction of the company's fuel reserves following power cuts, and severe damage to the fiber-optic cables that have been cut off from exchanges and have yet to be repaired. Cellular sites also sustained direct hits and were destroyed, and the mobile communications network is totally messed up.

Jabar, who also serves as chairman of Palestine Cellular Communication Co. Ltd. (Jawwal), is well known by senior executives in Israel's high-tech community. He said that requests by the Palestinian Authority and his company to the Ministry of Defense and Israeli government via the coordinating committees to allow bringing in spare parts and equipment in order to repair the damage and enable the network to function as quickly as possible.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 20, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009

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