Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ) has chosen international communication company Alcatel Lucent SA (NYSE; Euronext: ALU) to implement its fiber optic trial in Petach Tikva, sources inform ''Globes.'' The trial is extremely important for Bezeq, since the company will be formulating its fiber optic activity for home use according to the results. Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks also competed for the tender.
Two months ago, Bezeq announced the planned trial to be held in the Em Hamoshavot neighborhood in Petach Tikva. The goal of the trial is to prepare for the new project the company intends carrying out in the second half of the year: connecting the homes of interested customers with fiber optics for fast Internet access.
For the purposes of the trial, 150 homes and buildings will be connected to fiber optics. Bezeq will examine direct connections to apartments and buildings, including splitting copper lines, and boxes will be sold to customers.
Bezeq will also explore several complementary technologies based on upgraded ADSL technology used for high bandwidth data communication on regular telephone lines, and upon which the new grid it is building is based. The trial is being implemented due to increasing competition in the landline market: HOT Telecommunication Systems Ltd. (TASE: HOT) has already begun laying fiber optics for houses and buildings, and the Israel Electric Corporation's (IEC) (TASE: ELEC.B22) communications infrastructure project tender is already underway.
Bezeq's choice of Alcatel Lucent does guarantee future commercial communication, and Bezeq will conduct a tough tender on commercial terms. However, Alcatel Lucent is confident that it can supply a solution which will position the company as a serious candidate to win the tender.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 15, 2012
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