Israel bans the iPad

Apple’s iPad has been completely banned from Israel over concerns about the strength of its wi-fi signal.

The Associated Press reports that ten of the machines have already been confiscated by customs officials, though some iPads were taken across the border before the ban was announced. Confiscated machines will be held until its owners depart the country or arrange for them to be shipped back to the US.

The ban applies both to the country’s residents and tourists visiting the country.

The reason for the move is that the US allows for devices to broadcast their wi-fi signal at a far higher level than Israel. Officials are concerned that the iPad could interfere with the existing internet infrastructure.

If you operate equipment in a frequency band which is different from the others that operate on that frequency band, then there will be interference,” senior deputy director for the Communications Ministry Nati Schubert stated.

We don’t care where people buy their equipment. But without regulation, you would have chaos.”

However, it is hoped that Israel will announce new regulations that will allow for the sale of the device before its international rollout next month.