Train passengers in Israel can expect a pleasant change - reform details

Israel's Ministry of Communications has prepared a reform to improve mobile connectivity and internet on railways and highways. New rules will reduce 'dead zones': for every 20 km of intercity roads, areas without signal will not exceed 200 meters, and for local roads, 500 meters. The share of dropped calls will decrease from 2% to 1% per hour. Coverage will be assessed for each segment separately. An open digital map of communication quality will also be created.

Israel's Ministry of Communications has prepared a comprehensive reform aimed at improving the quality of mobile communications and internet on railways and intercity highways. The draft updated requirements have been submitted for public discussion. Current standards, adopted about ten years ago, are outdated and do not meet modern requirements, given the growth in mobile internet usage and 4G and 5G networks. The key change is a new approach to coverage assessment: instead of an average indicator across the entire road, each segment will be checked separately to eliminate situations where a good signal on one stretch compensates for long areas without connectivity on another. Special attention is paid to railway routes: authorities intend to ensure stable access to mobile internet and telephone communication throughout the entire trip. According to the draft, for every 20 kilometers of intercity roads, the total length of areas without signal must not exceed 200 meters, and for local roads, 500 meters. It is also planned to tighten requirements for voice call quality: the maximum allowable share of dropped or blocked calls will be reduced from 2% to 1% per hour. The authorities have abandoned mandatory requirements for signal quality inside buildings, strengthening control over coverage in open areas. The reform provides for expanding opportunities for installing new base stations, improving radio frequency allocation, strengthening control over operators, and creating an open digital map of mobile communication quality.