|
1998 Annual Report - Transmission, Data Communications 1998 Accomplishments
Transmission Links
As soon as PalTel assumed its responsibilities, it began tackling all the components
needed to construct a national transmission network. Focusing on achieving this strategic
goal, the company started executing the following three essential projects:
Fiber Optic Cable Projects in Gaza and West Bank
Regions
By mid-1998, a fiber optic cable (140 km) was installed and began operating, linking the
Gaza Strip cities together. With this fiber link, exchange traffic between the cities of
the Gaza Strip is being transferred through a Palestinian network.
Work is proceeding on schedule for the West Bank Intercity
connection project. This significant physical plant initiative involves 260 km of cables
for primary switching, 70 percent of which have been completed. In addition, 227 km of
fiber optic cable were required to link the switches and RSU’s in the West Bank
during 1998. This brings the total length of fiber optic cable installed throughout
Palestine during 1998 to 367 km.
Microwave-interconnection between the West Bank
& Gaza
This project is seen as the “backbone” for a Palestinian national independent
telecommunications network. Its purpose is to interconnect the transmission links of the
West Bank with the transmission links of the Gaza Strip. This will ameliorate the need for
traffic between the West Bank and Gaza to run through the Israeli Telecommunication
Company network.
A contract has been awarded to a company for necessary
supplies which are being received. In addition, the necessary two towers have been
constructed in both Gaza and Hebron. We expect to conclude the installations and commence
operation during the second quarter of 1999.
Digital Leased Circuits
In preparation for the Palestinian information transmission project, digital lease-line
circuits are currently deployed to multiple economic institutions for inter-branch and
private network communications. Total leased circuits has reached 280, serving 26 national
institutions. Ministry of Post & Telecommunications (MoPT) approval for monthly
charges has been secured.
1999 Goals
National & International Switches to Be
Constructed
Through a contracted project with Nortel, the following national and international
switches were constructed:
 |
A National & International
switch at Ramallah |
|
A National & International
switch at Gaza City |
|
A National switch at Nablus |
|
A National switch at Khan Younis |
When installed, the switches will act as transit nodes,
uniting with the transmission links to construct the core of the independent
telecommunications backbone, which becomes the infrastructure for hosting the new
Palestinian international code — 970.
The Palestinian International Network Grows Through
Microwave and
Satellite Connections
Implementation has begun to support the national Palestinian code 970, approved by a
resolution issued by the Telecommunications International Union, due to the greatly
appreciated efforts of the MoPT. PalTel has put plans in motion for the projects needed to
complete the international Palestinian Network and intends to fully leverage
Palestine’s geographical location for maximum national interconnections.
PalTel is currently preparing to operate international
links, under the MoPT’s supervision, through a series of ambitious projects:
|
Constructing microwave and fiber optic cable
connections with Egypt and Jordan. |
|
Constructing earth stations at Ramallah and
Gaza in preparation for securing satellite telecommunications at Palestine through the
Arabsat, as a first stage (the Arab Countries) and the Intelsat, as a second stage (Europe
& USA). |
|
Studying the possibility of utilizing the
submarine cables operating throughout the Mediterranean by constructing a landing point at
Gaza. This is crucial as it provides an international connection with Europe, America,
Canada and the Arab coastal areas. |
With the construction of this network, and the
commissioning of the two international switches (NISCs) at Ramallah and Gaza, the
international interconnection will be completed with the whole world in conformity with
international traffic standards and requirements.
Value-Added Services
Value-added services are a component of PalTel’s strategy because they provide a
cornerstone for the country’s developing economy. At both national and international
levels, PalTel’s automatic data transmission service will roll out, offering
frame-relay technology at first, followed shortly by the introduction of ATM services. At
completion, all computer centers will be connected with new digital transmission networks.
These offerings serve the vital needs of the Palestinian academic and other institutions.
Our Ultimate Goal
In addition to setting annual goals for installations and new service offerings for our
customers, PalTel has committed itself to a number of longer-term goals. These include:
|
Establishing an independent, modern and
integrated telecommunications network covering all of Palestine and directly linked with
the international telecommunications network. |
|
Providing high quality services conforming to
the latest technologies in this field and complying with its obligations toward the
licensing agreement. |
|
Providing various types of services as fixed
network lines, GSM, public pay-phones, paging, leased circuits, data transmission,
Internet, satellite telecommunications and other value added services. |
|
Developing appropriate tariffs for the offered
services under the supervision, and subject to the approval, of the Ministry of Post &
Telecommunications (MoPT). |
|
Presenting advanced services to its customers
by following easy and feasible procedures through its customer service centers distributed
all over Palestine. |
|
Investing in the uplift of the socio-economic
standards in Palestine by providing required telecommunication services to all sectors,
and participating in creating job opportunities for a wide category of qualified
individuals. |
back to annual report table of
contents
|
|
