My Journey Through Israel's Mobile Carriers - What you should know
Over the years, I’ve navigated the maze of mobile phone carriers in Israel, switching between several providers to find the best combination of service, coverage, and price. Israel’s mobile carrier market is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for a share of the consumer base. This competition has led to a wide range of plans, pricing tiers, and special offers that can be both exciting and overwhelming to navigate.
Cell coverage, speed, and availability vary depending on the provider you choose. It's best to ask locals about their carrier and the quality of their service. While several websites offer coverage maps, many are outdated or inaccurate. This same advice applies to choosing an Internet Service Provider in Israel as well.
Unfortunately, customer service is not a priority and years of loyalty have little meaning to these companies. With that being said, it is way easier and cheaper to switch carriers thanks to Israeli laws and the arrival of the E-Sim. Prior to that, customers had a single option for activating their plans: paying for a physical sim card and activation.
As companies continue to merge and acquire each other, such as Bezeq acquiring Pelephone and Cellcom acquiring Golan, competition in the market decreases. However, with Israel awarding MVNO licenses to new companies, the increase in mobile carriers helps drive prices down. This competition encourages providers to offer better packages and incentives to attract customers to switch.
What is an MVNO and Why Does it Matter?
An MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) is a mobile carrier that doesn’t own its own network infrastructure. Instead, it leases access to a major carrier’s network at a bulk discount (like Cellcom, Partner, or Pelephone) and resells it under its own brand, often at lower prices.
There are some downsides of using an MVNO:
- Smaller Companies, Less Support: MVNOs often have smaller customer service teams, which can result in longer wait times or less personalized support compared to the bigger carriers.
- Network Prioritization: Since MVNOs rely on major carriers' networks, their users may experience slower speeds or reduced service during peak times, as larger network users are prioritized.
- Limited Features: Some MVNOs offer fewer perks or premium services, like faster data speeds, international roaming options, or advanced features that the big carriers provide.
Contracts between MVNOs and the cell provider are time bound and an MVNO can switch to using a competing carrier's network. Here are the top MVNO brands next to the major carrier they use, this list has been last updated in January, 2025.
Rising Prices
As VAT (Value Added Tax) increased from 17% to 18% (in January of 2025), your cell provider may raise the cost of your plan. Additionally, many carriers offer a fixed price for a limited time after signing up. If you forget to switch plans once that period ends, you could be moved to a more expensive plan. It is important to note that sticker prices in Israel come with VAT included.
Set Price for Life?
WeCom (Formerly known as We4G, was sold by Xphone in 2022) had a "Set Price for Life" plan for 29 NIS a month with 40GB of Data prior to the VAT increase. Now, they have increased the same package price to 33.7 NIS a month for existing customers.
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| From their initial announcement |
They appear to have removed any mention of that plan on their site, and are now marketing plans with "unlimited" data instead. With a poor track record, do not expect this promotion to last a long time. Additionally the "unlimited" plan has additional stipulations, and it is advised to read the fine print first.
On the other hand, 019 Mobile had several different plans under a "Set Price for Life". They have actually stood by their original price point, even after the rise of tax. Note that, not every plan listed on their site has the guarantee:
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| The 3rd plan is the price for 3 years |
019 doesn't sell an unlimited data plan though.
Both companies have it written in their Terms of Service that they are authorized to end their promotions at any time.
019 has a dedicaed customer support line for new immigrants via 055-3000-019 in English, Hebrew, and Russian!
I am not and never was paid to endorse or recommend any carrier or service.
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