Israel Active

Israel has commenced a ten-year, multi-billion-shekel project to lay a national fiber optic network that will allow Internet download speeds of up to a gigabit (1,000 megabits) per second.

Cisco CEO John Chambers’ prediction came after meeting Prime Minister Netanyahu and agreeing to help upgrade Israel’s digital infrastructure. Israel is moving to connect fiber-optic networks and infrastructure to homes, businesses, education and healthcare all at once.

Interview with Gadi Tirosh of Jerusalem Venture Partners, which is building a cyber incubator in Beersheba. It will grow IT security companies from some of the most talented Israelis in academia and the military in order to tackle the growing threats that firewalls and anti-virus cannot handle.

(Thanks to Israel21c) An estimated 4 billion people own a simple mobile phone – mostly in countries where a smartphone would not work. Israeli start-up VascoDe provides a 2G system to provide email, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia etc. via national mobile providers.

Elbit’s Clear Vision system was put on show yesterday at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. The system’s advanced multi-spectral camera displays real-time pictures on transparent glass in front of the pilot, enabling passenger aircraft to land even in storms and fog. The video is of an earlier version.

An El Al 737 plane has completed trials with the new C-MUSIC DIRCM system to protect against terrorist shoulder-fired missiles. Every El Al, Arkia and Israir civilian plane will be equipped with the new system.

Tel Aviv University and Israel’s Technion have partnered with free-course provider Coursera to offer especially developed classes in four study areas – including engineering, archeology, biology and cultural studies.

Israel marked National Science Day with lectures in unlikely places. In people’s homes, the Israel Museum, and (because it was also Einstein’s birthday) the Einstein Pub.

57 percent of Israelis have a smartphone - up from 35 percent last year – and the highest global annual increase. Only the UK (62 percent) is higher in smartphone ownership. But Israelis beat the world when it comes to smartphone usage (Internet, apps, maps etc).

(Thanks to Ophir) The Israeli Ministry of Agriculture has approved the use of "Tamar Tech" pesticide based on non-toxic and edible oils. When sprayed on the plants in the field or in the greenhouse it protects leaves, stems and fruits from attacks by insects, spider-mites and fungi.