Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ), whose revenue dropped 7% to NIS 9.5 billion in 2013, is Israel's leading telecommunications group on the Globes Dun's 100 ranking for 2014.
Cellular operators Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE:CEL; TASE:CEL) and Partner Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTNR; TASE: PTNR), which have been having a tough time coping with the growing competition in the sector in recent years, were in second and third place, respectively. Cellcom's revenue plunged 17% to NIS 5 billion in 2013, while Partner's revenue sank 19% to NIS 4.5 billion.
Hot Telecommunication Systems Ltd. (TASE: HOT.B1) was the only one of the five communications groups to increase its revenue in 2013, gaining a miniscule 0.9% to NIS 4.2 billion. In fifth place was DBS Satellite Services (1998) Ltd. (YES), whose revenue was down 0.1% to NIS 1.6 billion.
Bezeq was the only telecommunications group with a profit ratio of more than 10% - its NIS 1.7 billion net profit reflected an 18.5% profit ratio. Hot was the only group whose profit ratio declined (by 1.5%) and the only one to post a loss (NIS 6.2 million). The five leading telecommunications groups in 2013 had an aggregate profit ratio of 6.5%.
The five leading groups had almost NIS 25 billion in aggregate revenue, and jointly employed 27,000 workers.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 10, 2014
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014