Bezeq has removed the link to its Infogate subsidiary, which provides content for broadband Internet, from its WOW high-speed Internet portal. The Ministry of Communications ordered the removal.
Internet providers complained to the Ministry of Communications that Bezeq is operating Infogate, in violation of regulations specified in the WOW service package. They allege that Infogate is providing movies and games through the portal and competing with them.
Ministry of Communications policy forbids Bezeq to deal in content, except through its subsidiaries. A ministry check discovered that Bezeq is in effect providing content on its portal through Infogate.
The ministry initially required Infogate to ask for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) license. After the company did so, however, it was learned that Infogate was dealing solely in content and not providing Internet services. The license was immediately invalidated.
Bezeq VP marketing and sales Pnina Shenhav confirmed that the Ministry of Communications last week ordered the company to remove the link to Infogate from the WOW portal. Shenhav said that while Bezeq believes that Infogate is included under the terms of the WOW service package, the ministry order had been given and carried out.
According to Shenhav, the ministry and Bezeq are discussing a revision of the WOW service package to enable Bezeq to link content providers, in addition to Internet providers. She added that this would bring broadband content closer to the customer.
Infogate declined to respond to the report.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on October 15, 2001