012 Smile.Communications Announces Implementation of the Gronau Committee Recommendations
PETACH TIKVA, Israel, August 20 -- 012 Smile.Communications (NASDAQ: SMLC) (TASE: SMLC), a growth-oriented
provider of communication services in Israel, today announced that Israel's
Minister of Communications declared his decision to implement the
recommendations of the Gronau Committee for the increased competition in the
communication market . The declaration constitutes (among others) the
following decisions:
1. Increase the competition within the Israel cellular
communication market, by granting MVNO licenses.
2. Cellular operators will not be allowed to enter the
international long distance market unless an international communication
services provider will be granted an MVNO license, and subject to changes in
the tariffs of the international calls made by cellular phone users.
3. Increase the competition within the landline communication
services, by enforcing Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) of the infrastructure of
Bezeq, The Israel Telecommunication Corp. Ltd., the incumbent local telephony
provider in Israel. Following such LLU, Bezeq's subsidiaries will be allowed
to offer bundled services, subject to several additional terms and
conditions.
If fully implemented, these changes will allow the Company to
compete in the mobile market and in the IPTV sector and improve its
competitive position in the domestic land lines market.
About 012 Smile.Communications:
012 Smile.Communications is a growth-oriented communication
services provider in Israel with a leading market position, offering a wide
range of broadband and traditional voice services. Its broadband services
include broadband Internet access with a suite of value-added services,
specialized data services and server hosting, as well as new innovative
services such as local telephony via voice over broadband and a WiFi network
of hotspots across Israel. Traditional voice services include outgoing and
incoming international telephony, hubbing, roaming and signaling and calling
card services. 012 Smile.Communications services residential and business
customers, as well as Israeli cellular operators and international
communication services providers through its integrated multipurpose network,
which allows it to provide services to almost all of the homes and businesses
in Israel.
012 Smile is a 72.4 % owned subsidiary of Internet Gold Golden
Lines Ltd. (NASDAQ: IGLD) one of Israel's leading communications groups with
a major presence across all Internet-related sectors. In addition to 012
Smile, its 100% owned Smile.Media subsidiary manages a growing portfolio of
Internet portals and e-Commerce sites. Internet Gold and 012 Smile are part
of the Eurocom Communications Group. 012 Smile's shares trade on the NASDAQ
Global Market and on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
For additional information about 012 Smile.Communications
Ltd., please visit the Company's investors' site at http://www.012.net.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that
are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, general business conditions in the industry, changes
in the regulatory and legal compliance environments, the failure to manage
growth and other risks detailed from time to time in 012
Smile.Communications' filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. These
documents contain and identify other important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections
or forward-looking statements. Stockholders and other readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to
update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Idit Azulay
012 Smile.Communications Ltd
+972-72-2003848
i.azulay at smile.net.il
