Pressure is growing on the Ministry of Communications ahead of the publications of the recommendations of NERA Economic Consulting Ltd. on inter-network connectivity fees approaches. Sources inform ''Globes'' that the mobile carriers are demanding that the ministry publish NERA's recommendations on the structure of the fees reduction, to see whether it recommends a single cut.
Sources close to the mobile carriers claim that the Ministry of Communications concealed NERA's recommendation at the hearing on connectivity fees cut, and that no one knows what NERA's position really is about the structure of the cut, whether it should be all at once or in stages.
The sources also allege that it was inconceivable that NERA refrained from recommending a structure of the fees cut, because it recommended gradual cuts in connectivity fees in similar reports in other countries, and that it cautioned that too sharp a cut was liable to harm the mobile carriers.
The Ministry of Communications is due to receive NERA's final report today or early next week. After reviewing the report, Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon will publish the recommendations.
The Ministry of Communications' current position is not to gradually reduce the connectivity fees.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 26, 2010
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