Israel's Ministry of Communications Approved, for the First Time in Israel, the Establishment of an Innovative Community-Wide Wi
September 19 2007 - 11:09AM
PR Newswire (US)
PETACH TIKVA, Israel, September 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Internet Gold (Nasdaq NMS: IGLD, TASE: IGLD), Alvarion (Nasdaq NMS:
ALVR) and Intel (Nasdaq NMS: INTL) today announced that they are
cooperating to establish Israel's first community-wide WiMAX-based
broadband network, bringing high-speed Internet access, data and
voice services to an area within the city of Sderot and Israel's
Western Negev. These areas are remote from Israel's densely
populated central region and are currently dealing with difficult
security challenges. The new network will transform the specific
area into a "hot spot" with free of charge, "always-on" Internet
access and state-of-the-art communications services, making it one
of the country's - and the world's - most technologically advanced
regions. The project was made possible by the issuance today by the
Israeli Ministry of Communications to Internet Gold's fully-owned
subsidiary, 012 Smile.Communications, of an extension to the
limited license for WiMAX field trials in restricted areas the
company received which currently ends on March 2008 and the
issuance in February of an unlimited license for nationwide VOB
(Voice Over Broadband) services. WiMAX is an emerging technology
designed for the wireless, high-speed delivery of broadband
Internet access and related services in areas with diameters of up
to ten kilometers, such as campuses or municipalities. The Sderot
Project represents an extension of these field trials. Through the
use of Alvarion's advanced WiMAX technology and Intel network
equipment, the area's schools, kindergartens and public spaces will
receive broadband connections to 012 Smile.Communications'
012-branded Internet Access services and 072-branded telephony
services. "We are proud to be the 'midwife' of this important
project and grateful for the enthusiastic participation of our
partners Alvarion and Intel," said Ms. Stella Handler, CEO of 012
Smile.Communications. "As one of Israel's leading communications
groups, we have always searched out ways to give back to the
community, and are strong believers in the power of technology as
an enabler of developmental change. We are therefore doubly pleased
to bring WiMAX to Sderot, a city that has suffered on both
developmental and security fronts, helping it to become one of the
world's first 'connected' cities and giving it the technology to
reach its full potential." Mr. Tzvika Friedman, President and CEO
of Alvarion, added, "In developing regions throughout the world,
broadband Internet access is proving to be a great 'leveler' that
brings improved education and economic progress in its wake. We are
proud to be a world-leading developer of cost-effective WiMAX
technologies -- and delighted to take part in this worthwhile
project so close to our home base." Mr. Raviv Melamed, General
Manager of Intel's Mobile Group, commented, "We feel that it is
especially appropriate for us to contribute our world-leading WiFi
and WiMAX modems and adapters - the majority of which were
developed in our Israeli R&D centers -- to these heroic Israeli
communities. By extending the 'connectedness' of local
kindergartens, schools, public agencies and businesses, we hope our
joint project will improve the quality of life for Sderot
residents." About Internet Gold Internet Gold is one of Israel's
leading communications groups with a major presence across all
Internet-related sectors. Its 012 Smile.Communications 100% owned
subsidiary is one of Israel's major Internet and International
Telephony service providers, and one of its largest providers of
enterprise/IT integration services. Its 100% owned Smile.Media
subsidiary manages a growing portfolio of Internet portals and
e-Commerce sites. Internet Gold is part of the Eurocom
Communications Group and its shares trade on the Nasdaq Global
Market and on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. For additional
information about Internet Gold, please visit its investors' site
at http://www.igld.com/. For further information, please contact:
Lee Roth - KCSA Worldwide Tel: +1-212-896-1209 Mor Dagan - Investor
Relations Tel: +972-3-516-7620 Ms. Idit Azulay, Internet Gold Tel:
+972-3-939-9848 DATASOURCE: Internet Gold CONTACT: For further
information, please contact: Lee Roth - KCSA Worldwide, , Tel:
+1-212-896-1209; Mor Dagan - Investor Relations, , Tel:
+972-3-516-7620; Ms. Idit Azulay, Internet Gold, , Tel:
+972-3-939-9848
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