Ministry Seeks Verizon, Others for Israeli Communications Market

The Communications Ministry is seeking to bring American communications firms to Israel to invest in new cellphone network infrastructure. Nati Cohen, director general of the Communications Ministry, accompanied Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on his recent visit to the United States for that purpose, Globes reported. Among the investments Israel is seeking is assistance in setting up a fifth generation (5G) communications network, the report said.

According to Globes, Israeli cellphone communications firms have begun tests to implement the advanced networks, working together with a communications lab at Bar Ilan University. A 5G network is to be deployed in the area, to enable tests of the system. The report said that the Ministry also intends to use the network as a magnet to attract investments from American cellphone service companies, which are more advanced in that area than Israeli firms.

On the visit, Globes said, Cohen met with officials of Verizon, one of the largest communications firms in the U.S. He also met with officials of security firm Lockheed-Martin, which already has an operation in Israel, to expand operations here. The Ministry has said on numerous occasions that it sees deployment of a 5G network as a top priority.