Bezeq to double Internet speed
Bezeq Israel Telecom said on Sunday it would soon double internet speeds to 200 megabits per second after receiving approval from regulators.
Bezeq, Israel’s largest telecoms group, has long sought permission from the Communications Ministry to allow it to offer speeds of more than 100 Mbps, but the regulator had rejected the request saying its view that Bezeq would not want to deploy a fiber optics network.
But the coronavirus outbreak showed that Israel’s infrastructure was not sufficient, with many parents complaining of network issues when multiple children were learning from home on Zoom and other video services.
“This reality sharpens the need for a high-quality and stable Internet infrastructure capable of delivering high browsing speeds,” said CEO David Mizrahi.
Bezeq said it has invested tens of millions of shekels to upgrade its network to double internet surfing speeds, while also investing in a fiber network that it said can reach 1.5 million households.
Its main rival, cable company HOT, offers speeds of up to 500 Mbps while smaller rivals Cellcom and Partner Communications — Israel’s two largest mobile phone operators — are deploying fiber networks with speeds up to 1 gigabit per second.
Bezeq and the telecoms regulator have been at odds for years over a fiber network, with the regulator demanding Bezeq deploy in all of Israel, while Bezeq argued it was not viable to do so in rural areas.
In recent months, the regulator has eased its demand to around 70%. (Reuters)