Bezeq has asked an Israeli court to reverse government plans to open up the country’s wholesale market to competition.
In a statement last week, the Israeli incumbent said it has filed a petition with the High Court of Justice to cancel a recent decision by the Ministry of Communications to change the way wholesale services are regulated.
It has requested that the court "schedule an urgent hearing" on the matter.
In November Israel’s then minister of communications Gilad Erdan approved plans to open up the fixed-line market to competition, a move that naturally affects Bezeq more than most, since it dominates the country’s fixed broadband market, its only serious competitor being cable operator Hot.
The decision requires Bezeq to provide access to its network to competing operators, providing wholesale broadband and telephony services at capped rates. The decision also affects Hot; both companies will have their licences amended to reflect the new rules.
However, Bezeq is asking for the decision to be reversed and the licence amendments cancelled. It argues that, amongst other things, the Ministry exceeded its authority in setting out certain parts of its ruling.
"Sections of the decision are extremely unreasonable and other sections of the decision are unable to be implemented," it said in a statement.
It also added that it believes the proceedin gs that led to the Ministry’s ruling were carried out improperly. Bezeq itself did not get a full hearing and on certain issues was not permitted to put forward its views at all, it said.
