Israel’s Minister of Communications Yoaz Hendel has announced plans to incentivize cellular companies to maintain cell site partnerships, which will include sharing passive network components, such as the mast, structure and electricity, along with antenna sharing.
This, says the minister, will enable cellular companies to jointly negotiate with asset owners and lower the leasing costs paid for cell sites. He also suggests that this sharing can increase the efficiency of companies’ expenditures on network development and maintenance and improve the ability to invest in expanding coverage and capacity.
He adds that lowering leasing costs will help the companies compete both in price and in quality of service, but not undermine coverage obligations. The context for this is an expected 50-fold increase in data consumption in the next decade and the growth of advanced applications.
The Ministry says it will be monitoring the implementation of the agreement in order to ensure that companies work in accordance with instructions and that there will be no degradation of service to the subscribers.
The Ministry of Communications also plans a public hearing on its intention to enable private entrepreneurs to deploy advanced cell sites on existing civilian infrastructures like lighting poles, electricity pylons, signs and bus stops, using an infrastructure leasing model already used for cellular companies.
