Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., May 13, 2008 Iyyar 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:31 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

One-third as talkative as Israelis By Ziv Amitai Tags: Abdel Malik Jaber, Paltel  One look at Paltel's Web site is all it takes for one to be able understand the anomalous situation of the Palestinian Authority's economy. The cost of phone calls is listed in Israeli shekels, but the company's financial results are in Jordanian dinars, and CEO Abdel Malik Jaber speaks in dollars. Whatever the currency, the communication habits in the Palestinian market are easy to learn. The average Palestinian talks for 132 minutes a month, compared to 345 for the average Israeli. Paltel's average monthly revenue per user is $18, while Israeli companies earn about $37 from each customer. Like other emerging economies, there are far more cellular phones than land lines. Paltel's cellular subsidiary, Jawwal, has 1.1 million subscribers, and another 700,000 Palestinians subscribe to Israel's four cellular operators. Some areas of the PA even have better reception from the Israeli operators than from Jawwal, because the Palestinian company cannot set up antennas in West Bank areas controlled by Israel. Sometimes a Jawwal subscriber traveling through the West Bank has to roam between Israeli networks, as if he were traveling abroad. N Advertisement inety percent of Jawwal's customers pay for their calls in advance, via phone cards, while the other 10% are "regular" credit customers. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Death of a heroine Irena Sendler, who saved 2,500 Jews during the Holocaust, dies at 98. Apocalyptic tidings Holy See warns of nightmarish perils if Mideast nuclear arms race is not halted.

Read & React Zvi Bar'el: Olmert could still make peace with Syria, PA Responses: 16 Woman, 70, killed as Qassam strikes Negev home Responses: 197 Lebanese army says will use force from Tues. to stop fighting Responses: 39 Israel demands Hamas truce bid include prisoner swap Responses: 53 Bush to Haaretz: PM is 'honest guy' and strategic thinker Responses: 55 More Headlines 12:31 Hamas: Shalit won't be part of any truce deal 14:52 Tony Blair: Israel agrees to ease West Bank restrictions 14:50 Bush to Haaretz: Peace process not contingent on Olmert 14:07 Gazan killed in IAF air strike; Qassams fall near Ashkelon 14:26 From Albania to Indonesia, 10 world leaders all stay in one Jerusalem hotel 13:47 Obama advisor: Jerusalem must be included in peace talks 09:29 Police search Jerusalem City Hall for proof Olmert took bribes 09:30 Lebanon army says will use force from Tues. to stop fighting 11:06 Olmert postpones speech on Diaspora relations due to Peres 02:45 ANALYSIS / In Lebanon, the new reality has taken over Previous Editions Select Day 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr

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