A era is ending at Pelephone Communications Ltd. After ten years of activity at Ben Gurion Airport, the company is terminating its contract with the Israel Airports Authority, and will close its mobile phone rental booth. Sources inform ''Globes'' that the contract will expire at the end of October, and that the mobile carrier will stop renting UMTS devices at the airport to customers with the old CDMA devices who are travelling abroad.
Previously, Pelephone customers who used the old network had to replace their mobile phones before travelling abroad, because it was technically impossible to use roaming services on GSM networks in Europe.
Two years ago, Pelephone switched to HSPA technology (a GSM upgrade), and set up a network that supports international roaming. Most Pelephone customers travelling overseas now have handsets that support international roaming. Consequently, there is no need for the mobile telephone rental stand at the airport.
A Pelephone spokeswoman confirmed the reports. She said that Pelephone customers who use the old network will be able to continue renting GSM mobile phones for international travel, or upgrade their phones to UMTS, at any service center near their homes. Customers have been notified of the change.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 21, 2010
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