STATE OF ISRAEL MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS First Regional Forum on Telecommunications Reform in the...

STATE OF ISRAEL

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS

First Regional Forum on Telecommunications Reform in the MEDA AreaAthens, 25-26 April 2001

Liberalization of Markets and New Regulatory Framework

The Israeli CaseDaniel Rosenne

Director General, Ministry of Communications, Israel

[email protected]

STATE OF ISRAEL

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONSPresentation Agenda

Telecommunications networks & services: Market overview Mobile services International long distance Fixed services

Regulatory reform: Regulation overview License auctions Tariff rebalancing New numbering plan Bezeq’s privatization

Summary.

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Telecommunications Network & Services

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Israel's Telecommunications

2.8 million main telephone lines(45% penetration).

4.8 million mobile customers, on 4 networks (76% penetration).

1.3 million households connected to multichannel subscriber television Cable: 3 operators, 1.2 million subscribers, 70% of

homes passed, 95% household coverage. Satellite: 1 operator, 0.1 million subscribers.

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Internet Services

~40 Internet service providers, 1,000,000 dial-up & 10,000 directly connected customers, 50,000 domains.

Penetration ~ 40% of households, 50% of businesses.

IIX (Israel Internet eXchange) non-profit peering point.

“Hands-off” overall regulatory policy.

High growth ~ 50% annual.

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Israel Internet DevelopmentGallup Israel survey: Maariv, 30 March 2001, Haaretz, 17 July 2000

Connected households, using more than 1 hour/week

1997 1998 1999 2000

29.0%

42.0%

21.0%

2001

13.2%

5.4%

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Telecommunications Services Market - 2000

InternationalLong-Distance

CableTV

Terminal Equipment& Business Systems

Internet services

FixedServices

49%MobileServices

32%

8%7%

1.5%2.5%

Total telecom services market ~ US $5 billion

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The Mobile Boom:Israel Telecommunications Services Revenues, 1995-2000 (US $M)

500

1,000

1,500

3,000

1995 1996 1997 1998 19990

2,000

2,500

2000

Mobile

CATV

Fixed

ILD

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The Existing Regulatory Environment

Separation between regulation and operation (since 1984).Regulation responsibility - Ministry of Communications.

General licenses issued to facilities based service providers: Fixed services - Bezeq, Ofek. Mobile services - Pelephone, Cellcom, Partner, MIRS. International long-distance services - Bezeq

International, Golden Lines, Barak.

Special licenses issued for value-added services.

Termination of exclusive rights: Fixed Services - 1 June 1999. International long distance - 31 December 2001.

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Mobile ServicesCompetition introduced in December 1994

Rapid growth - 125,000 subscribers in January 1995. In November 1999 the number of mobiles (2.9 million) exceeded the number of fixed lines.

Key expansion stimulators:

Perceived low tariffs: ~ US $0.11 to 0.23/minute air time, ~ $11 to 29 monthly charge. ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) - US$50 to 60.

Calling party pays (CPP).

Nationwide coverage & “Land-line”quality.

Competition & marketing innovations.

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International LongDistance Services

Competition introduced in July 1997.

3 facilities based operators:

Golden Lines (012)Telecom Italia, Fishman.

Barak (013)Sprint, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, Clalcom & Matav.

Bezeq International (014)The incumbent carrier, 100% owned by Bezeq.

Dialing Parity.

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MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONSDialing Parity Rules

Per-call carrier-selection prefixes (01X). For each of the international service providers.

CPS (carrier pre-selection) - subscribers choose a preferred provider for ‘00’ prefix and ’188’ international operator services.

Competitive practices - CPS balloting. Consumers’ data provided by Bezeq & mobile

operators on non-discriminatory basis.

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International Traffic[Million Minutes/Year]

0

200

400

600

800

1995 1997 1998 1999

1200

1000

2000

Outgoing

Incoming

1996

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Fixed Services CompetitionDriven by Broadband Demand

Prolonged Delays: Politics: May 1999 elections. Government - cable companies disputes:

Fulfillment of universal service obligation. Competition - DBS services, content. Finance Ministry seeking payment for granting

telecom license. Justice Ministry seeking limits on content control.

Union disputes - safeguarding ‘employee rights’.

Rough Road Ahead: Telecom law change underway, allowing cable

companies entry into telecom. Fixed wireless access tender.

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The Birth of New Entrants

Regulation allowing fixed services licensing - published September 2000.

‘Ofek’ fixed services license - granted February 2001.

Fixed wireless access tender - published October 2000.

Cable companies restrictions removal - Telecom Law update due during 2001.

Roll out of several competitive fiber-based backbones - MedNet, Ofek, Cellcom, Israel Railways.

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Ofek New WorldIsrael’s first licensed CLEC

Owned by Eurocom group (50.33%) & Arison investments (49%).

Fixed services general license – as of 1 February 2001.

Plans for modern IP based infrastructure, utilizing 1000 Km fiber cables.

Covering 15 “natural zones” (out of 53).

Will offer wide range of telephony & broadband data services, for business & households.

Plans for US $1Bn investment, 1500 employees.

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TelecommunicationsCompetition Enhancement by

Regulatory Reform

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Regulatory ReformPromoting Competitive Advantage

Competition in fixed services.

Structural change of the telecommunications sector:

Liberalization. Re-regulation. Privatization.

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MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONSProactive Re-regulation

The end of the access monopoly:Facilities-based competition.Alternative infrastructure: fiber, copper, cable,

fixed wireless, satellite.

Simple interconnection rules:Non-discriminatory access, carrier pre-

selection & dialing parity.Non-discriminatory interconnection tariffs.Minimum compatibility requirements.

“Open access” for value-added service providers.

New numbering plan & frequency allocations.

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Regulation Philosophy

Consumers are the focus. Competition is essential. Interconnection is the key. Technology neutral regulation is an important concept. Facilities based competition is the preferred way.

Unbundling is interim “competition promotion” method. Structural separation & cross-ownership limitations are

important to assure fair competition. Cable companies should be regulated as common

carriers. “Hands off” regulation of new services (e.g. internet). Transform from sector specific “ex-ante” to general anti-

trust “ex-post” regulation.

STATE OF ISRAEL

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONSRe-regulation Covers:

Competition rules - ownership, resale. timetable.

Universal service - obligations, reciprocal compensation.

Interconnection - rules, tariffs, terms.

General license owners - obligations, structural regulation, services.

Numbering - administration, portability, new numbering plan.

Tariff rebalancing.

National Emergency & Security issues.

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Fixed Wireless Access Auctions

Up to 3 operators, selected in MSR (Multiple Simultaneous Round) combined auction.

Frequency Allocations, for each operator: 26 GHz Broadband: 2 x 196 MHz. 3.5 GHz Narrowband: 2 x 12 MHz.

Participation of Bezeq & cable operators in the auction is excluded.

Reserve price: US $1.5 million. Roll-out obligation: 3 years. Tender published: 12 October 2000. Applications

deadline: 3 April 2001.

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2G/3G Mobile License Auctions

MSR (Multiple Simultaneous Round) combined auction.

Frequency packages, for 4 licenses: 2G FDD: 2x10 MHz. 3G FDD: 2x10 MHz. 3G TDD: 5 MHz (for 3 packages only).

Reserve price: US $100M. 25% reduction for new operators.

Tender published: 28 March 2001. Applications deadline: 17 July 2001.

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Bezeq Tariff Rebalancing Price-cap regime - productivity gap (x-factor) of 3.5%.

One step rate rebalancing in April 1999, almost eliminating cross-subsidies between servicesFurther adjustments were made on May 2000 & March 2001.Voice traffic still subsidizes telephone access.

Simpler tariffs: Simple tariff matrixLocal calls or urban-toll calls during peak hours (0800-1800, Sunday to Thursday), unified tariff for off-peak hours.

Per-second billing, as of May 2000per-second billing with minimum charge per-call, replacing traditional “meter pulse”.

Special Internet promotion dialup tariffs, as of May 2000 Customer choice between number of alternative tariff plans, bundling local call minutes in exchange for monthly fee.

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Bezeq’sInterconnection Rates

Time Nationalof Day Termination Origination

Peak 1.53 1.56

Interim 0.9 1.56

Off-peak 0.6 1.56

WeightedAverage 1.16 1.56

Per minute rates, per second billing; US cents, $1 = NIS 4.116, $1 = 1.11 €

EU 2000 “Best current practice” termination charges, US ¢: Local: 0.45-0.81, single transit (metropolitan): 0.72-1.35, double transit (>200km): 1.35-1.62.

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Mobile CPP Tariff Regulation [Sept. 2000]

Cost-based CPP (Calling Party Pays) mobile call termination tariffs, as of September 2000.

Eliminating discriminatory and anti-competitive practices resulting from subsidizing outgoing calls by incoming calls revenues.

CPP mobile call termination tariffs:

Year Tariff [US ¢/minute]

2001 122002 112003 10

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New NNP (National Numbering Plan)

Additional digit (9 digits number length): Step 1 - Mobile: 5 [N]XXX XXXX

(N = 2 for Cellcom, 4 for Partner, 6 for Pelephone, 7 for MIRS).

Step 2 - Fixed: A [N]XXX XXXX

Area codes consolidation: Area codes 6 & 7 reclaimed December 2000.

Services numbering re-arrangement : 1XX for life threatening emergency; 1XXX for

other services. 1 YYY XXX XXX logical numbering.

Toll-free (1-800) number portability.

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Numbers [Millions] Number Type

Old NNP New NNP

Geographic 56 160 - 320

Mobile 8 80

Logical - 160 – 80

New Services 10 100

Future Use - 240 - 160

Will We Have Enough Telephone Numbers?

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BezeqThe Israel Telecommunication Corp Ltd.

Israel's incumbent operator (ILEC).

Annual sales – US $2.05 billion.

11,000 employees (8,200 in Bezeq, the parent company).

Government holds 55% of Bezeq shares (remaining shares - publicly held).

Government formally approved selling 50.01% of Bezeq shares to a single strategic investor.

Government plans to complete privatization during 2001.

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Summary

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Regulatory Policy

Structural changes - achieving strategic advantage in competitive global markets.

Competition - the key for innovation, entrepreneurship, investment & growth.

Key action areas: Liberalization. Re-regulation. Privatization.

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Regulation Philosophy

Free and competitive markets promote growth, efficiency, customer satisfaction & economic advantage.

Market restructuring, in transition from monopoly to open and free market, during a short time period, requires active and balanced regulatory intervention.

Once competitive marketplace is achieved, a strong regulator will provide unnecessary intervention, and should be abolished.

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The Future of Regulation: Open Communications Infrastructure

A system of largely free-market competition with just enough governmental oversight to ensure that competitors stay within bounds.

Best combination of the benefits of government oversight with those of laissez-faire.

The bounds are the basic essentials:Open access.Universal access.Interconnection.Fair competition.Public safety & security.

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Israel's Telecommunications Map

Pelephone(Bezeq)

Bezeq

Bezeq

1994

PelephoneCellcomPartner

2000

Bezeq

Bezeq-InternationalBarakGolden-Lines

Post 2000

Pelephone Cellcom Partner MIRS Others

BezeqOfek New WorldOthers:

Wireline Wireless

Bezeq-InternationalBarakGolden-LinesAdditional operators

MobileServices

FixedServices

(Infrastructure, Transmission & Telephony)

International

Long DistanceServices

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Thank you for your attention

For more information

http://www.moc.gov.il

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