The violations of the cellular companies regarding cellular reception and coverage: the Ministry of Communications sent inspection reports to the cellular companies that do not provide full cellular coverage on Israel’s roads | The new drive test system operated by the office found that the cellular companies do not provide full cellular coverage on roads 40 and 13
Aharon Suisa 26.07.2022
After purchasing an advanced monitoring system to check the coverage and reception throughout the country, Drive test, the Ministry of Communications began to operate an inspection vehicle that makes test trips throughout the country, and examines the coverage of cellular reception wherever it goes. Following the findings of the test trips, the Ministry of Communications initiated an inspection procedure against the violations of the cellular companies regarding cellular coverage and reception throughout the country.
The supervision procedure was carried out by the supervision and enforcement division of the Ministry of Communications through a test drive of a car equipped with the system Drive Test which examined the extent of coverage and the quality of cellular reception on road 40, the second longest in Israel (302 km), which connects Kfar Saba to the Ketura junction in the Arava, and on road 13 which connects the Tsihor junction to the Rest junction. The inspection reports sent today (Tuesday) to the cellular companies show an alleged violation of the coverage and cellular reception obligations, and according to them, on some of the inspected roads there is a lack of coverage and cellular service in 4th generation technology at a rate that apparently exceeds what is defined in the license.
It should be noted that the report of the Administration of Enforcement and Supervision in the Ministry of Communications found that all the companies did not provide 4G cellular coverage for more than 10% of the total length of the road and therefore, they do not meet the third milestone for the cellular coverage obligation, according to which the cellular companies must provide cellular coverage 4th generation technology on Israel’s roads at a level of 90%, starting from August 2019. It should also be noted that by February 2023, the cellular companies will already be required to cover 95% of Israel’s roads with 4th generation technology.
The inspection reports, signed by the director of technological inspection, Mr. Roni Khoury, were sent this morning to all the companies by the VP of Inspection and Enforcement at the Ministry of Communications, Aya Ben Porat.
At the end of the inspection procedure and if it is found that the companies were found to be in violation, heavy fines will be imposed on them. The Ministry of Communications will continue the supervision and enforcement activities in order to verify that the cellular companies provide service as required by the provisions of the law.
All that remains is to wait for the ‘drive test’ to arrive in ultra-Orthodox areas, such as Beitar Ilit and the new Beit Shemesh neighborhoods, which are known for their poor cellular reception.