Golan Telecom Ltd. is launching 4G services for its customers today, with an added benefit for subscribers: a 20 GB data plan for customers who pay NIS 99 a month. This plan is unlike any other in the mobile market, and it is unlikely that the average customer reaches such usage levels, and unclear whether it is necessary, but it seems that Golan is trying to continue to create benefits for its customers in any way possible in order to differentiate itself and remain attractive to users.
Golan’s 4G customers, like its 3G customers, piggyback on the network of Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE:CEL; TASE:CEL), after Golan almost completely dismantled all the cellular antennae it built. Golan signed a roaming agreement that includes Cellcom’s network, which means that wherever Cellcom has deployed its network (and wherever it deploys in the future), Golan customers will receive service.
Golan Telecom, like HOT Mobile Ltd., did not take frequencies from the Ministry of Communications in the temporary 5 megahertz early allocation offering. The only network that does not currently operate a 4G network is Hot Mobile. The temporary frequencies that were allocated to the veteran operators were intended to answer to the needs of Partner Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTNR; TASE: PTNR), which needed frequencies because it began massive 4G network deployments before Pelephone Communications Ltd. and Cellcom entered the field. Partner sped up its 4G network deployment and needed 4G frequencies due to the frequency shortage. The Ministry of Communications did not want to give frequencies only to Partner, and therefore decided to temporarily allocate 5 megahertz to each operator until the 4G frequency tender, which is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, is held.
Golan Telecom announced today that its 4G services will be launched for all Golan customers, on all plans. According to the company, the revolution announced today is the 20GB data plan on the 4G network, including those customers on the “All-Included International” plan, who will benefit from the improved package (for use in Israel only).
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 17, 2014
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