AI is already changing Israel's communications network. According to Bezeq, AI traffic on its network among private customers has tripled in the past three months. The figure covers use of chatbots, learning tools, personal assistants and other AI-based apps. Bezeq CEO Nir David presented the figures during a press tour of the company's communications tunnels under Tel Aviv, Globes and Ynet reported.
Unprecedented growth
According to David, data traffic on the network used to double roughly every two and a half to three years, and the AI revolution is accelerating that pace dramatically. "Behind the artificial intelligence revolution is a communications infrastructure that connects data centers, technology companies and users," he said.
The tunnels under Tel Aviv
Bezeq has four main communications tunnels under Tel Aviv, about ten kilometers long in total and up to 15 meters deep. The tunnels, dug in the 1950s and 1960s, connect the company's central service hubs and carry cables and optical fiber. The longest tunnel has eight entrances, all secured with special locking systems and monitored around the clock.
How Bezeq uses AI
David also described how the company itself uses AI: AI agents in customer service, smart network monitoring tools that detect faults before customers notice, and AI in network security and cyber defense. Bezeq is also preparing for national emergencies, in which the communications network is critical infrastructure.
What it means for Israel
Bezeq's figures illustrate the less discussed side of the AI revolution: it requires not just chips and models but also communications networks, fiber and data centers. According to Ynet, Israel's data centers are still relatively small, consuming about 20 to 30 megawatts. If the growth rate continues, Israel will need to invest much more in infrastructure to keep up in the AI race.
