"Partner supports the reduction in inter-network connectivity fees, but insists that the process should be gradual," Partner Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTNR; TASE: PTNR) VP regulation, business development and investor relations Oded Degani said at a meeting on the reduction in inter-connectivity fees today.
Degani said that Partner favored expanding competition in the mobile market, but argued, "It's odd that the Ministry of Communications actually wants to reduce competition in other sectors that we want to enter, such as international calls, and landline telephony."
Degani said, "The Ministry of Communications itself determined, as well as through the company it hired to review the inter-connectivity fees that there was no failure in the mobile market. Therefore, the starting point of market failure in this sector is simply not true. It's important not to destroy the mobile market and the industry."
At the meeting, Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon said, "There is no personal fight here with anyone. This is a necessary measure. We're talking about completing a call, and there is a monopoly in this section, not a free market. That's why we decided to supervise this tariff."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 10, 2010
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