The Antitrust Authority has rejected a request from the Ministry of Communications for information about the Antitrust Authority's refusal to approve the triple play package of DBS Satellite Services (1998) Ltd. (YES). Sources inform ''Globes'' that a senior ministry official asked for clarifications, but the Antitrust Authority refused to explain the reason for its decision.
Top Ministry of Communications officials are astonished at the Antitrust Authority's lack of cooperation, as it never notified the ministry on the matter or consulted with it.
The Ministry of Communications permitted YES to sell a television, telephony, and Internet plan at full price, but the Antitrust Authority refused to grant permission. Top ministry officials said that if they were asked to again approve the plan they would do so without hesitation.
The sources added that YES's parent company, Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ), has decided to make another effort to persuade Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon to intercede in the matter and speak with the Antitrust Authority. Some of the sources believe that every effort should be made with Kahlon, but other sources criticize Bezeq's decision to stand aside and not to participate in the argument with the Antitrust Authority.
When the dispute between the Antitrust Authority and YES became known, only YES made efforts at explanations and persuasion, while Bezeq deliberately decided not to help its subsidiary.
The Antitrust Authority declined to comment on the report.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 20, 2012
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