Golden Channels will begin providing high-speed Internet services all over Israel on March 17.
At a ceremony in the Minister of Communications' office tomorrow, cable company Golden Channels will receive a license for high-speed Internet transmission on its cable network. Matav-Cable Systems Media (Nasdaq: MATV) and Tevel have not yet received final license approval from the Ministry of Communications.
Golden Channels CEO Ami Even said the company would begin providing high-speed Internet services all over Israel on March 17. The service will be provided at two speeds in the initial stage: one less than 0.5 Mbps and the other greater than 0.5 Mbps.
Matav is apparently encountering difficulties in raising the $10 million guarantee for the license, due to the Dankner family's cross ownership in the company and in Bank Hapoalim. Sources inform "Globes" that Bezeq is considering a petition to the High Court of Justice against the granting of a license to Golden Channels.
Eliezer Fishman, the controlling shareholder in Golden Channels, is also the controlling shareholder in "Globes". Ami Even is also CEO of "Globes".
Published by Israel's Business Arena on March 5, 2002