MK Aliza Lavie of Mish Atid found the gimmick that will embarrass the government: this morning (Tuesday), she submitted a bill to dismantle the Bezeq monopoly and create competition in the communications market.
Yesterday, former Communications Minister Gilad Erdan announced that he was withdrawing from the plan to submit a bill to dissolve Bezeq, due to the fact that he is joining the government.
Erdan, who took office as Minister of Public Security, said this morning in an interview with Galei Tzahal that he would support the dissolution of Bezeq even if the proposal were submitted by the opposition.
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MK Lavie: ""It is impossible for such an important move to lower the cost of living to be stopped due to political interests. The bill will put an end to the difficulties that Bezeq is piling up for creating competition in the communications market, contrary to the decision to implement the broadband reform.".
""Bezeq is preventing a necessary move designed to address the cost of living. We must continue to fight for the implementation of reforms designed to benefit citizens, even to the displeasure of large and powerful business entities or vested political parties.".
The wholesale market reform, known as the broadband reform, is intended to reduce consumer communications prices. Since the reform came into effect, Bezeq has been violating the terms of its license and working to preserve its monopoly by preventing competition in the market, thereby preventing lower prices for consumers.
The bill gives the Antitrust Commissioner tools to take steps to prevent Bezeq's absolute control over the broadband infrastructure, to the extent that it does not allow for increased competition within the framework of the wholesale market reform.
Intervention by the Antitrust Commissioner will require Bezeq to sell its holdings in content and services, so that it remains solely an infrastructure company.
According to Lavie, this step will increase competition in the Israeli communications market, reduce the prices of Internet and broadband-based services by tens of percent, and benefit consumers.
