Rotel will charge the kibbutzim $25 per month per user, for unlimited use. The cable network will
also serve as a kibbutz intranet.
Rotel, which specialises in setting up internal cable networks on kibbutzim, is now conducting trials at Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael in which it is supplying kibbutz members who have personal computers with Internet and multimedia services on the internal kibbutz cable network. Rotel uses Net-Game modems for data transfer.
Rotel is currently negotiating with other kibbutzim over connecting members with personal computers to the Internet. For the time being, Rotel supplies the service via Netvision, but in the future it will be possible to receive it via any of the Internet companies in Israel.
Rotel plans to connect 20-30 kibbutzim to the Internet via cable by the end of 1997. Rotel will charge the kibbutzim $25 per month per user, for unlimited use. The Internet company will charge the kibbutz as a whole $225 per month, and there is also the initial cost of purchasing a server and a Bezeq prime relay line. As well as a connecting to the Internet, the cable network will also act as a kibbutz intranet, via which the kibbutz will be able to supply various services and deliver all kinds of messages and announcements.
Rotel is a 50% subsidiary of the Coller group. The two managers and founders of the company, Sasson Nimrodi and David Weiss, each hold 25% of the shares. Modem manufacturer Net-Game is a subsidiary of BVR. It is currently conducting technological trials for Internet and multimedia communications on cable networks in Tel Aviv (with Tevel), and Holon-Bat Yam (with Matav). The company exports its modems both independently and through Philips.