What does glisha mean on an Israeli phone plan?

גלישה is mobile data, listed in GB separately from calls and SMS. נפח גלישה is the data allowance, which is a quantity, not a speed.

Does 052 mean the number is Cellcom?

Not necessarily. The September 2026 Ministry file allocates 052 to Cellcom, but ניוד מספר lets people keep their number when they switch, so the prefix shows only the original allocation.

Is 058 Golan Telecom?

The official file allocates the 058 blocks to Cellcom. Golan Telecom still uses 058 as a brand and says its services operate under Cellcom's licenses.

How do I write an Israeli mobile number in international format?

Replace the leading 0 with +972. 050-2XXXXXX becomes +972 50 2XXXXXX, never +972 050.

Will my phone work in Israel in 2026?

From 2026 only 4G or 5G phones that support VoLTE keep ordinary mobile service, after the 2G and 3G closure. Check that your phone supports VoLTE and that VoLTE is turned on.

Israeli Phone Plans: Chavila, Glisha, 05x

Plan Words

On the label or sign

חבילת חו״ל: roaming package
חבילה נוספת: add-on package

חבילהPackage or bundle

chavila

US English

Package or bundle

UK English

Bundle or package

What it is

A חבילה is a group of included services, such as a GB amount plus minutes and SMS, or an add-on such as extra data or roaming. A חבילה can describe the whole advertised offer or only one component.

The difference

A חבילה is not always the base monthly plan; a roaming or data חבילה may sit on top of the plan.

Common mistake

Do not assume every חבילה is the whole monthly service; check whether the חבילה is an add-on.

On the label or sign

עיקרי התוכנית: main plan terms
מעבר מסלול: change plan

תוכנית / מסלולRate plan

tochnit / maslul

US English

Plan or rate plan

UK English

Tariff or plan

What it is

A תוכנית or מסלול is the tariff arrangement and its terms. Carrier pages use עיקרי התוכנית for main plan terms and מעבר מסלול for changing plan.

The difference

Carrier marketing overlaps תוכנית, מסלול and חבילה, so the three are not rigid legal categories.

Common mistake

Do not translate מסלול literally as "route"; on a phone plan, מסלול means plan.

On the label or sign

לחודש למנוי: per month per line

מנוי / קוSubscriber and line

manui / kav

US English

Subscriber or line

UK English

Subscriber or line

What it is

מנוי can mean the subscriber, the subscription or a priced line; קו is the mobile line. A price marked לחודש למנוי is per line per month.

The difference

A family offer priced למנוי may require several lines, so the headline is not the account total.

Common mistake

Do not read a family price marked למנוי as the total for the whole account.

On the label or sign

מנוי יחיד: single line

מצטרפים חדשים / בצירוף מנוייםEligibility conditions

mitztarfim chadashim / be-tziruf manuyim

US English

New customers, with X lines

UK English

New customers, with X connections

What it is

מצטרפים חדשים means new customers, מנוי יחיד means a single line, and בצירוף X מנויים means with X lines. The eligibility conditions sit next to the headline price.

The difference

The big price often needs מצטרפים חדשים status or a minimum number of lines, with a different single-line price.

Common mistake

Do not compare only the large price and miss a מצטרפים חדשים or line-count condition.

On the label or sign

₪ לחודש: shekels per month

דמי מנוי / תשלום חודשי קבועMonthly charge

dmei manui / tashlum chodshi kavua

US English

Monthly service charge

UK English

Monthly tariff charge

What it is

דמי מנוי is the recurring base charge, shown as ₪ לחודש. The line beside the דמי מנוי gives duration, line count and included services.

The difference

דמי מנוי is not the full bill when add-ons, overage, device payments, roaming or international service apply.

Common mistake

Do not treat the דמי מנוי as your whole bill.

On the label or sign

בחודשיים הראשונים: in the first two months
מהחודש השלישי: from the third month
לשנה הראשונה: for the first year

מחיר היכרותIntroductory price

mechir hekerut

US English

Introductory price

UK English

Introductory tariff

What it is

מחיר היכרות is a time-limited price for the first months or first year, followed by a higher price.

The difference

A מחיר היכרות offer states two prices: one now and one from a later month.

Common mistake

Do not record only the מחיר היכרות; note the price from מהחודש השלישי or after לשנה הראשונה too.

On the label or sign

ללא דמי חיבור: no activation fee
ללא עלות סים: no SIM charge

דמי חיבור / עלות SIMActivation and SIM fees

dmei chibur / alut sim

US English

Activation fee and SIM charge

UK English

Connection fee and SIM charge

What it is

דמי חיבור, also called דמי הצטרפות, is a one-time activation fee; עלות SIM is the charge for the SIM card. A plan can list ללא דמי חיבור and ללא עלות סים as two separate benefits.

The difference

A free SIM does not mean no דמי חיבור, and no דמי חיבור does not mean a free SIM.

Common mistake

Do not assume one waived fee covers the other; look for both ללא דמי חיבור and ללא עלות סים.

On the label or sign

עמלת יציאה: exit fee

ללא התחייבות / תקופת התחייבותMinimum term

lelo hitchayvut / tkufat hitchayvut

US English

No contract or minimum term

UK English

No minimum term or minimum term

What it is

ללא התחייבות means no commitment; תקופת התחייבות is a minimum term, and עמלת יציאה is an early exit fee. Prepaid is commonly advertised ללא התחייבות.

The difference

Some products carry a תקופת התחייבות; Pelephone's recurring global roaming component states a three-month commitment and a conditional exit charge.

Common mistake

Do not assume no Israeli mobile product has a תקופת התחייבות; read bundled roaming and extras.

Data and Allowances

On the label or sign

נתונים סלולריים: mobile data (phone setting)

גלישה / גלישה סלולריתMobile data

glisha / glisha selularit

US English

Mobile data

UK English

Mobile data

What it is

On a mobile plan, גלישה means internet use over the mobile network, shown beside a GB amount and a network generation. In phone settings, נתונים סלולריים is the mobile data switch.

The difference

In a mobile plan, גלישה is not a home broadband subscription and is listed separately from calls and SMS.

Common mistake

Do not read גלישה as an extra home internet product or the GB figure as a call allowance.

On the label or sign

ג׳יגה: gigabytes

נפח גלישהData allowance

nefach glisha

US English

Data allowance in GB

UK English

Data allowance in GB

What it is

נפח גלישה is the data volume available in a billing or validity period, written in GB or ג׳יגה.

The difference

נפח גלישה is a quantity; speed (מהירות or קצב גלישה) is measured in Mbps or Gbps.

Common mistake

Do not confuse the נפח גלישה allowance with network speed.

תקופת חשבון / מחזור חיובBilling cycle

tkufat cheshbon / machzor chiyuv

US English

Billing cycle

UK English

Billing period

What it is

תקופת חשבון is the period in which allowances are measured and recurring charges are billed.

The difference

A 30-day validity from purchase is common for prepaid and roaming, but a billed line normally follows its תקופת חשבון.

Common mistake

Do not assume every allowance lasts 30 days from purchase; check the תקופת חשבון.

On the label or sign

מסרונים: text messages

דקות שיחה / הודעות SMSMinutes and texts

dakot sicha / hoda'ot SMS

US English

Voice minutes and texts

UK English

Call minutes and texts

What it is

דקות שיחה and הודעות SMS (also מסרונים) are separate domestic allowances. Offer cards commonly show thousands of each and state an overage rate.

The difference

A large number of דקות שיחה is not literally unlimited and may not cover international calls or premium numbers.

Common mistake

Do not read a big דקות שיחה number as unlimited or as including calls abroad.

On the label or sign

בשימוש אישי, סביר והוגן: personal, reasonable and fair use

גלישה חופשית / ללא הגבלהUnlimited data, on terms

glisha chofshit / lelo hagbala

US English

Unlimited data

UK English

Unlimited data

What it is

גלישה חופשית is marketing language whose real boundary sits in the terms, usually with a fair-use clause (בשימוש אישי, סביר והוגן). On 8 November 2026, wecom called a 5G offer free while defining 10,000GB per month subject to fair use.

The difference

גלישה חופשית is not a mathematically unbounded allowance; the fair-use clause is part of the limit.

Common mistake

Do not read גלישה חופשית as truly unlimited; check the numeric cap and fair-use wording.

גלישה חופשית באפליקציות נבחרותSelected free apps

glisha chofshit be-aplikatzyot nivcharot

US English

Zero-rated apps

UK English

Selected apps outside the allowance

What it is

גלישה חופשית באפליקציות נבחרות means the apps named in the offer, often shown by logos, do not draw from the data allowance.

The difference

גלישה חופשית באפליקציות נבחרות does not make all phone data free; the counting rules are in the plan terms.

Common mistake

Do not assume all data is free because some apps are; read the plan terms.

On the label or sign

הרחבת חבילת גלישה: data top-up
מתחדש מדי חודש: renews monthly

חריגה / האטת קצב הגלישהOverage and throttling

chariga / ha'atat ketzev ha-glisha

US English

Overage and throttling

UK English

Out-of-bundle use and throttling

What it is

ניצול is use of the allowance, חריגה is use beyond the limit, and האטת קצב הגלישה is reduced speed. Under the current HOT Mobile license, at 100% data use the carrier must stop or slow data and send a free SMS.

The difference

Slowed data cannot add a charge beyond the fixed monthly data payment under that license, and extra paid data needs an explicit request (הרחבת חבילת גלישה).

Common mistake

Do not assume reaching the cap always brings a surprise charge; check whether a הרחבת חבילת גלישה renews every month (מתחדש מדי חודש).

Calls Abroad

On the label or sign

מהארץ לחו״ל: from Israel to abroad

שיחות לחו״ל / מהארץ לחו״לInternational calls from Israel

sichot le-chul / me-ha'aretz le-chul

US English

International calls from Israel

UK English

International calls from Israel

What it is

שיחות לחו״ל are calls placed while in Israel to another country, often only to listed destinations or line types.

The difference

"500 דקות מהארץ לחו״ל" is not 500 roaming minutes; שיחות לחו״ל do not apply while you travel.

Common mistake

Do not confuse שיחות לחו״ל with שיחות בחו״ל, calls made while abroad.

On the label or sign

גלישה בחו״ל: data abroad
נדידת נתונים: data roaming setting

חבילת חו״ל / נדידהRoaming package

chavilat chul / nedida

US English

Roaming package

UK English

Roaming bundle

What it is

A חבילת חו״ל covers service while the Israeli SIM is on a foreign network: גלישה בחו״ל and שיחות בחו״ל. The terms list destinations, start date, validity and what calls and SMS are included.

The difference

A domestic allowance does not follow you abroad, and the phone setting נדידת נתונים, data roaming, must be on for data abroad.

Common mistake

Do not buy a חבילת חו״ל and leave נדידת נתונים off, or turn נדידת נתונים on without a package in place.

SIMs and Networks

On the label or sign

יתרה: balance
תוקף: validity

פריפייד / תשלום מראשPrepaid

prepaid / tashlum merosh

US English

Prepaid

UK English

Pay as you go

What it is

פריפייד is service paid before use, with a top-up (כרטיס טעינה), a balance (יתרה) and a validity period (תוקף). Monthly billed plans are usually shown as ₪ לחודש, not as "postpaid."

The difference

פריפייד is not only pay per minute; package cards say what a top-up includes and how long it lasts.

Common mistake

Do not assume unused פריפייד units and balance never expire; check the תוקף.

eSIM / סים דיגיטליeSIM

esim / sim digitali

US English

eSIM

UK English

eSIM

What it is

An eSIM, סים דיגיטלי, is a digital SIM profile in a supported device. Activation uses an emailed or SMS link or a QR code and usually needs Wi-Fi.

The difference

An eSIM profile is active on one device at a time, and not every handset supports eSIM.

Common mistake

Do not expect one eSIM QR code to stay live on several phones.

On the label or sign

SIM DATA: data-only SIM

גלישה בלבד / סים דאטהData-only SIM

glisha bilvad / sim data

US English

Data-only SIM

UK English

Data-only SIM

What it is

A גלישה בלבד or SIM DATA line is for a tablet, laptop, modem or cellular router, without the ordinary voice and SMS bundle.

The difference

Carrier sites list גלישה בלבד in a separate category from phone plans.

Common mistake

Do not buy a סים דאטה as a normal phone line and expect calls and SMS.

On the label or sign

כיסוי: coverage
קליטה: reception

דור 4 / דור 54G and 5G

dor arba / dor chamesh

US English

4G/LTE and 5G

UK English

4G/LTE and 5G

What it is

דור 4 and דור 5 are network generations, 4G and 5G. To get דור 5, the plan, the device and the location must all support it.

The difference

Pelephone says one 5G site in a town does not mean full town coverage (כיסוי).

Common mistake

Do not treat a דור 5 plan as 5G everywhere; test home, work, the safe room and your commute.

VoLTE / שיחות בדור 4VoLTE calling

VoLTE / sichot be-dor arba

US English

Voice over LTE

UK English

Voice over LTE

What it is

VoLTE is the voice technology needed after Israel's 2G and 3G networks closed. From 2026, only 4G or 5G phones that support VoLTE keep receiving ordinary service.

The difference

A phone marketed as 4G is not automatically VoLTE compatible, and VoLTE may need to be turned on in settings.

Common mistake

Do not check only for a 4G icon; confirm VoLTE support and the VoLTE setting, including on imported or kosher phones.

On the label or sign

מכשיר כשר: kosher handset

קו כשר / סים כשרKosher line

kav kasher / sim kasher

US English

Restricted kosher voice line

UK English

Restricted kosher voice line

What it is

A קו כשר is a religiously certified restricted service, commonly tying a designated number range, an approved SIM and an approved handset (מכשיר כשר), with services or destinations blocked.

The difference

A 2025 Knesset court filing describes קו כשר arrangements as private agreements with the certifying association, not state regulation. A קו כשר may be voice only and may have number porting limits.

Common mistake

Do not assume a קו כשר is just a filtered web plan or that a normal SIM works the same in the certified handset.

Numbers and Prefixes

קידומת05x prefix

kidomet

US English

Prefix, not an area code

UK English

Prefix, not an area code

What it is

A קידומת is a number block the Ministry of Communications allocates to a licensed provider. The September 2026 file gives 050 to Pelephone, 051 to wecom, 052 and 058 to Cellcom, 053 to HOT Mobile and 054 to Partner; 055 is shared by 15 licensees.

The difference

056 and 059 are Palestinian allocations, and 057 has no current allocation. Golan Telecom still uses 058 but says it operates under Cellcom's licenses.

Common mistake

Do not treat a קידומת as an area code or as proof of the caller's current carrier.

On the label or sign

ספק קולט: receiving provider
ספק נטוש: losing provider

ניוד מספרNumber porting

niyud mispar

US English

Number porting

UK English

Number portability

What it is

ניוד מספר is keeping the same number while changing provider. The portability plan routes calls to the receiving provider (ספק קולט).

The difference

After ניוד מספר the visible prefix stays the same while service moves to another carrier.

Common mistake

Do not identify a caller's present carrier from 050, 052 or 054 alone.

+972 / חיוג מחו״לInternational number format

chiyug me-chul

US English

International format

UK English

International format

What it is

+972 is Israel's country code. Write 050-2XXXXXX as +972 50 2XXXXXX, dropping the first zero.

The difference

The domestic 0 and the country code never appear together in a +972 number.

Common mistake

Do not write +972 050; drop the leading zero after +972.

You say	The offer says	Keep in mind
Plan	מסלול / תוכניתmaslul / tochnit	Not "route"
Bundle or add-on	חבילהchavila	May sit on top of the plan
Mobile data	גלישהglisha	Shown in GB
Per line	למנויla-manui	Family prices are per line
Introductory price	מחיר היכרותmechir hekerut	Check the later price
International calls	שיחות לחו״לsichot le-chul	From Israel, not roaming
Roaming	חבילת חו״לchavilat chul	Turn on נדידת נתונים
Pay as you go	פריפיידprepaid	Check the validity
Data-only SIM	גלישה בלבדglisha bilvad	No ordinary calls or SMS
Number porting	ניוד מספרniyud mispar	Keeps your number

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Plan Words

חבילהPackage or bundle

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תוכנית / מסלולRate plan

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מנוי / קוSubscriber and line

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מצטרפים חדשים / בצירוף מנוייםEligibility conditions

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

דמי מנוי / תשלום חודשי קבועMonthly charge

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מחיר היכרותIntroductory price

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

דמי חיבור / עלות SIMActivation and SIM fees

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ללא התחייבות / תקופת התחייבותMinimum term

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Data and Allowances

גלישה / גלישה סלולריתMobile data

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

נפח גלישהData allowance

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תקופת חשבון / מחזור חיובBilling cycle

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

דקות שיחה / הודעות SMSMinutes and texts

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גלישה חופשית / ללא הגבלהUnlimited data, on terms

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גלישה חופשית באפליקציות נבחרותSelected free apps

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חריגה / האטת קצב הגלישהOverage and throttling

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Calls Abroad

שיחות לחו״ל / מהארץ לחו״לInternational calls from Israel

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חבילת חו״ל / נדידהRoaming package

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

SIMs and Networks

פריפייד / תשלום מראשPrepaid

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

eSIM / סים דיגיטליeSIM

What it is

The difference