News Brief10:42 AM

(IsraelNN.com) A new Internet service customized for the hareidi-religious public will lead to a 300% rise in the volume of computer and communications activity in the sector, according to an expert. Gal Oren, an advertising executive who specializes in the hareidi sector, told Nfc that the internet service will revolutionize the computer and communications field in the hareidi world.

While official figures say that 0% (none) of the hareidi households currently have internet connection, estimates are that 12% of the households have some kind of connection to websites. Virtually all telephony is carried out through Bezeq. Gal said that as hareidi households connect to the Net, many of them will also opt for telephone service through the cable/internet providers.

By the end of 2008, he said, there will be computers in 75% of hareidi households, a rise of 15% from the present estimate. 20,000 new computers will be purchased, at a total cost of NIS 50 million.