West bank and gaza Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in west bank and gaza, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
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Overview

The Palestinian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector employs around 5,000 individuals in 250 companies in the West Bank and Gaza. Around 50% of these companies have partnerships outside the West Bank and Gaza and 40% export to international markets. All types of ICT companies exist including computer hardware and office equipment importers, software development houses, business consulting services, cloud-based software development, automation, mobile computing, digital media, Internet Service Providers, and telecommunication companies. With the development of the Palestinian ICT sector, local demand for computers and peripherals, telecommunication equipment, mobile handsets, outsourcing services and web designing services is growing.

In 2018, the ICT sector took a major step forward with the launch of 3G services in the West Bank and with the introduction of Ooredoo (mobile phone company) phone and data service in Gaza. Jawwal and Ooredoo, the two mobile phone companies operating in the West Bank and Gaza, have a combined 4.3 million mobile subscribers. Currently, only 2G service is available in Gaza. During a visit to the West Bank on July 15, 2022, the U.S. President announced that Israeli and Palestinian teams will work together immediately to start the technological surveys, with an aim to roll out an advanced infrastructure for 4G in the near future. This commitment will accelerate digital transformation and foster a more well-connected Palestinian economy. Paltel is the fixed line operator in the West Bank that currently has around 485,829 subscribers.

Internet serves as an important communication tool within the West Bank and Gaza and with the outside world. Today, around 90% of Palestinian households have home Internet access and there are 405,000 broadband ADSL subscribers. Most Palestinians use the Internet for knowledge, research, studying, social media, business-to-business activities, and entertainment.  Opportunities exist as internet service providers move from DSL to Fiber and work to install a fiber network.  

About one third of Palestinian households own a computer. Most West Bank and Gaza computer hardware companies import directly from international vendors. However, Israel imposes restrictions on ICT imports that are listed as “dual use” products. Exports are limited to software, research and development, and outsourcing services. Some software companies have outsourcing and developing projects for regional and international companies.  Most ICT companies providing software development services in the West Bank have transitioned to fiber internet.  Palestinian tech workers have displayed strong skills in Python, Excel, and Information Processing and possess a strong foundation for work in data science, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and software development.

The Palestinian ICT sector is represented by the Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA), a membership-based non-profit organization. With its 170 members, PITA has been very active in representing the interests of its members, developing the Palestinian ICT sector, and increasing public-private sector partnerships.

Leading Sub-Sectors

  • Telecommunication equipment
  • Computer hardware
  • Software
  • Networking equipment
  • Audio-visual equipment

Opportunities

Good opportunities exist for U.S. exporters of telecommunication equipment, computer networking equipment, cybersecurity, servers, and consumer electronics. Also, good prospects may exist soon in providing 4G service in the West Bank and Gaza.

Resources

  • Ministry of Telecommunications & Information Technology
  • Palestinian IT Association of Companies
  • Palestinian ICT Incubator
  • Paltel
  • Jawwal
  • Ooredoo Palestine

For further information, please contact:

Assad Barsoum, Senior Commercial Specialist, Assad.Barsoum@trade.gov or +972-2-657-2688.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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