مجموعة الاتصلات » internet

Broadband policy reform lowers Internet prices

ola — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 08:27:14 +0000

Israelis can now connect to the Internet in one step,

rather than dealing with infrastructure and Internet

Service Providers separately.

The Ministry of Communications broadband policy reform is underway – henceforth, connecting to the Internet will be carried out in one step, with no need to coordinate separately with an infrastructure provider and an Internet service provider (ISP). Under the reform, all the communications companies will be able to buy Internet infrastructures from Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ) and HOT Telecommunication Systems Ltd. (TASE:HOT) at “wholesale” rates, which is expected to lead to improved service by reducing the price that the public pays for a communications services package by tens of shekels.

Already this morning, 018 Xfone announced a reduction in Internet prices, and is offering a 100 Mbps Internet connection for a total cost of NIS 100 per month, for both infrastructure and ISP services.

012 Smile, owned by Partner Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTNR; TASE:PTNR), also announced that it will launch Internet services (infrastructure and ISP) at NIS 100 for 100 Mbps. Internet at 15 Mbps will cost NIS 89 per month. The company has set up a dedicated website for the service, and has named the new service Internet One.

More companies are expected to advertise their Internet rates once the reform goes into effect. The rate for 40 Mbps will be roughly NIS 89 per month, and the rate for 15 Mbps will be roughly NIS 79 per month.

The new prices are NIS 20-30 less per month than the prices before the reform. Bezeq, for example, sold a 100 Mbps package for NIS 110, not including ISP services, such that the total cost was between NIS 130 and NIS 140, depending on the rate paid to the ISP.

Hot also reduced rates yesterday for its 12 Mbps service – instead of costing NIS 89 per month, it will now cost NIS 75, for infrastructure alone. ISP service must be added to this, such that the price for the 12 Mbps package is not particularly attractive.

The prices are valid for one year, after which they will go up by NIS 20.

24% of Israelis never use Internet – survey

ola — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 06:49:32 +0000

Only 8% of the non-surfers say they shun the Interne for

religious reasons.

24% of Israelis never surf the Internet, and 31% find no interest or usefulness in it. The figures are from a survey of Internet trends in Israel carried out by the Smith Institute among 502 respondents in February this year, as part of the World Internet Project. Israel is represented in the research project by the Research Center for Internet Psychology at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center, headed by Prof. Yair Amichai-Hamburger.

The survey also sheds light on digital gaps in Israeli society, finding that 15% of those who do not surf the Internet are in fact incapable of doing so. A further 15% say they are simply too busy, and 14% do not use the Internet because they have no computer or other suitable device. Only 8% of the non-surfers said they did not use the Internet for religious reasons.

Altogether, 76% of the adult population in Israel have an Internet connection, 5% more than in 2011. Among young people aged up to 29, the proportion of those who surf the Internet is 85%, compared with 62% among those aged 50 and above.

Only 33% of the haredi (ultra-Orthodox Jewish) community use the Internet, compared with 85% of secular and traditional Jews. Among ethnic minorities in Israel, the proportion of Internet users is 63%.

Switching to smartphone

Since a similar survey in 2011, a substantial rise has taken place in the proportion of Internet users who surf via smartphone, from 23% to 74%. Nevertheless, most Israelis (91%) still surf via computer. Tablets account for just 29% of Internet surfing.

A little surprisingly, Israelis still do not rely on the Internet as a job search tool, and only 32% look for work that way. This is still three times as many as in 2011.

On the other hand, about 40% of Israelis now use the Internet to pay bills and carry out banking transactions.

The survey also covers Israelis’ opinions on various matters, such as politics (83% agree that people should feel free to criticize the government via the Internet); government supervision of the Internet (32% support greater government supervision than exists today); and privacy (50% say they are not concerned if the government checks their Internet activity).

Most users still do not consider information found on the Internet to be reliable, with only 29% saying that all or most information on the network is reliable.

Faster Internet co Hola raises $10m

ola — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:54:12 +0000

globes 25-10-2012

Faster Internet co Hola raises $10m

The financing round in the Netanya-based start up was led by Li Ka-shing’s Horizon Ventures.

25 October 12 09:54, Globes correspondent

Hola, which is developing software to make the Internet up to ten times faster, has raised $10 million in a financing round led by Li Ka-shing’s Horizon Ventures and with the participation of previous investors Magma Venture Partners, DFJ, DFJ Tamir-Fishman, and Trilogy VC. Hola has raised $18 million to date

Based in Netanya, Hola is developing software as an overlay network that it hopes could make the Internet far faster than it is today. Hola claims that its systems will result in faster browsing, faster videos and clearer voice and video chat. The systems are applicable for PC, laptop and smartphone operating systems.

Hola was founded by CEO Ofer Vilenski and CTO Derry Shribman who previously founded Jungo in 2000. Jungo, which developed residential and business gateway software platforms and applications, and which was sold to NDS in 2006 for $107 million.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – www.globes-online.com – on October 25, 2012

Cellcom offers low-price 3-line, Internet, landline plan

ola — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 06:05:14 +0000

Cellcom offers low-price 3-line, Internet, landline plan

The NIS 349 monthly Cellcom Total plan includes three mobile lines, 10 mega Internet access, a landline, and international calls

Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE:CEL; TASE:CEL) is launching a new NIS 349 per month (including VAT) plan that includes three mobile lines, 10 mega Internet access, a landline, and international calls. The new plan is a game-changer in the telecommunications market, reflecting the creation of full-service groups.
The Cellcom Total plan offers three all-inclusive mobile lines with unlimited calls and SMS, and up to 1 giga internet access. The telephony line also has unlimited calls to all domestic destinations and up to 55 international destinations. The home router is free.
Cellcom is offering the plan as part of its transition to a telecommunications group following its merger with sister company, ISP and international calls carrier 013 NetVision Ltd. last year.
The new plan will presumably force its competitors – Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ), HOT Telecommunication Systems Ltd. (TASE: HOT), and Partner Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTNR; TASE: PTNR) – to respond. It also raises the question about how long Bezeq and its mobile subsidiary Pelephone Communications Ltd. can remain blocked from offering comparable plans.
Cellcom CEO Nir Sztern said, “Cellcom is bringing the next revolution to the world of Israeli communications. From today, a family’s entire communications expenses will be concentrated in a single company, on a single bill, and a single service at an incomparable price.”
Cellcom’s share price rose 2.9% by mid-afternoon today to NIS 24.30, after rising 3.8% on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday to $6.25, giving a market cap of $622 million.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – www.globes-online.com – on July 4, 2012