Israel Aircraft Industries general manager Moshe Keret says the "Amos" satellite is awaiting acquisition of channels by the satellite companies. "Israel's world standing will be harmed."
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) general manager Moshe Keret warned yesterday, in an appeal to Minister of Communications Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, that an end to the YES satellite broadcasting activity, due to the delay in the settlement with the cable companies, will lay waste to all IAI's investments in the "Amos" satellite project, Israel's first communications satellite operating in space at low capacity, and awaiting acquisition of channels by Israeli satellite companies. Keret also warned that a delay in starting broadcasts will prevent the development of "Amos 2", and harm Israel's world standing in the satellite field.
Keret's appeal follows the threat by the YES board of directors of returning the DBS license it was granted, and dismantling the venture, if a settlement is not reached in the content market by the end of the month.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on January 20, 2000