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The International Telecommunication Union, an organization affiliated with the United Nations, decided to dedicate this
year's International communications Day to
Cellular Communications.
The communications sector in Israel is underÂgoing a period of radical change. On the one hand, these changes include ever-increasing technological innovations that are developing at very rapid rates. On the other hand, there are constant changes in patterns of consumption and in the needs of the general public in botlÂthe business and domestic spheres. One of the dominant characteristics of this 'communications revolution' is the area of cellular communications-or radio mobile telephones-which is constantly, evolving.
As a result of the opening of the cellular communications market to competition, there are three cellular networks operating today offering country-wide service to more than 3 million subscribers (48% penetration), as opposed to one operator and 125,000 subscribers in January 1995. This growth is, in part, attributed to the reduction in prices and the creation of an advanced, high quality, cellular communications infrastructure, that is expected to continue growing in the coming years.
The rapid evolution of both the
technologies and the needs and desires
of consumers will continue to contribute,
shape and improve services in ways that will
result in lower prices, improved infrastructure,
and a greater demand for additional services.
In the near future, we will already be able to
enjoy a new line of cellular phones that will allow
for revolutionary features such as: surfing the
Internet (through the cellular protocol known as
WAP), electronic mail and fax services, scanning
of text, photocopying of both video and fixed
images, word processing, the transfer of text
and multimedia files, playing of MP3 files, radio
transmission, and many more services.
In addition, we must not ignore the social and cultural repercussions of the 'cellular revolution' on the Israeli public. This revolution brings with it, as mentioned, changes in the patterns of consumption of the Israeli consumer. The cellular phone services all the sectors of the Israeli population and is quickly becoming the preferred communication tool as opposed to regular telephones. The Israeli consumer opts for cellular telephones and makes expanding use of them. For the sake of comparison, Israelis use cellular phones for an average of 350 minutes per month, as opposed to 90 minutes in the United States.
The communications market in Israel is still undergoing a period of growth and transition. One thing that is clear though is that the innovations in the cellular communications sector will continue to play an important role in shaping the market's future.
International Relations Division Ministry of Communications