Bezeq is examining four proposals submitted in the smart-card tender for public telephones.
Bezeq has once again submitted a request and specification to test electronic wallets (smart cards) in Eilat. Bezeq believes that since the Bank of Israel has allowed, in principle, non-banking concerns to issue electronic wallets, the Ministry of Communications has no reason to refuse permission for the trial.
For nearly one year, Bezeq has run an electronic wallet trial at Bar Ilan University. During the trial, over 20,000 cards were distributed, and 80% were reloaded. The trial was operated by Racom Electronics, with equipment from France’s Schlumberger in cooperation with IBM Israel.
Bezeq is examining four proposals submitted in the smart-card tender for public telephones. Reportedly, if the Eilat trial run is approved, it is highly likely to be run by the group that wins the current tender.
The four groups are: France’s Schlumberger together with Israel’s Racom; Switzerland’s Landis Und Gyr with Israel Military Industries’ General Engineering; France’s Monitel with Incotech Israel: and the UK’s TPG with Tadiran Communications.