Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner" or "the Company") (NASDAQ:PTNR) (TASE:PTNR), a leading Israeli mobile communications operator, reports that the Israeli Ministry of Communications has published the 4G frequencies tender (the "Tender").
The Tender includes, inter alia, the following provisions:
- Frequency allocation in the 1800MHz spectrum - eight bandwidths of 5MHz each or seven bandwidths of 5MHz each and one bandwidth of 3MHz. The frequencies will be allocated for 10 years, unless the winning operator's license expires beforehand.
- The Tender will be conducted in two stages. At the first stage ('the eligibility requirements stage'), each of the offerors will submit a basic proposal and its compliance with the eligibility requirements specified in the Tender will be examined. At the second stage ('the financial bidding stage'), the offerors found to be compliant with the eligibility requirements will compete in an ongoing (online) bidding process for the frequency bandwidths included in the Tender.
- Partner will be allowed to offer a bid for up to two bandwidths of 5MHz each (10 MHz in total). Cellcom will be allowed to offer a bid for up to two bandwidths - one of 5MHz and the other of 3MHz (8MHz in total). Other operators, who are not currently allocated with frequencies in the1800MHz spectrum, will be allowed to offer a bid for up to four bandwidths of 5MHz each (20MHz in total).
-
Operators who will be allocated with frequencies as part of the Tender
will be allowed to provide 4G services in the 1800MHz spectrum in one
of the following configurations:
* A broadband access network which is not shared - at a bandwidth of no more than 20MHz in the 1800MHz spectrum;
* A broadband access network which is shared - at a bandwidth of no more than 25MHz in the 1800MHz spectrum; - Hot Mobile, Golan Telecom, and other new operators, will be entitled to a discount at a rate of up to 50% of the amount that they will have to pay the State (each addition of 1% market share will grant a discount at a rate of 10%, up to a maximum discount at a rate of 50%, during a period of 5 years).
- The minimum price is two million NIS per MHz.
- The Tender includes terms relating to 4G network coverage and to the quality of service.
The deadline for submission of the basic proposals has been set for September 28, 2014.
Partner is studying the terms of the Tender and is unable to evaluate at this stage its implications on the Company.
For further information, see the Company's 2013 Annual Report on Form 20-F - "Item 3. Key Information - 3D. Risk Factors - 3D.1 RISKS RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF OUR INDUSTRY - 3D.1g - We may not be allocated sufficient spectrum band or any spectrum at all needed in order to provide fourth generation (4G) services, and we may be required to terminate the use of certain spectrum or to share with another operator some of the spectrum we are currently using on an exclusive basis. These requirements may adversely affect our network quality and capacity as well as our ability to provide our customers with advanced technology services, which may adversely affect our ability to compete and our results of operations" and "Item 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY - 4B. Business Overview - 4B.13 Regulation -4B.13d Regulatory Developments - 4B.13d-v LTE Spectrum Allocation".
Forward-Looking Statements
This
press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of
the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor
provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek",
"will", "plan", "could", "may", "project", "goal", "target" and similar
expressions often identify forward-looking statements but are not the
only way we identify these statements. All statements other than
statements of historical fact included in this press release regarding
our future performance, plans to increase revenues or margins or
preserve or expand market share in existing or new markets, plans to
reduce expenses, and any statements regarding other future events or our
future prospects, are forward-looking statements.
We have
based these forward-looking statements on our current knowledge and our
present beliefs and expectations regarding possible future events. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and
assumptions about Partner, consumer habits and preferences in cellular
telephone usage, trends in the Israeli telecommunications industry in
general, the impact of current global economic conditions and possible
regulatory and legal developments. In light of these risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in
this press release might not occur, and actual results may differ
materially from the results anticipated. For further information
regarding the above-mentioned risks, uncertainties and assumptions and
other risks we face, see "Item 3. Key Information - 3D. Risk Factors",
"Item 4. Information on the Company", "Item 5. Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects", "Item 8. Financial Information - 8A. Consolidated
Financial Statements and Other Financial Information - 8A.1 Legal and
Administrative Proceedings" and "Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures about Market Risk" in the Company's Annual Reports on Form
20-F filed with the SEC, as well as its current reports on Form 6-K
furnished to the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
About Partner Communications
Partner
Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner") is a leading Israeli
provider of telecommunications services (cellular, fixed-line telephony
and internet services) under the orange™ brand and the 012 Smile brand.
Partner’s ADSs are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market™ and its
shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NASDAQ and TASE:
PTNR). For more information about Partner, see: www.orange.co.il/en/Investors-Relations/lobby/
Contacts:
Mr. Ziv Leitman, Tel:
+972-54-781-4951
Chief Financial Officer
or
Ms. Elana
Holzman, Tel: +972-54-781-4383
Head of Investor Relations
E-mail:
investors@orange.co.il