ROSH HA’AYIN, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner" or "the Company") (NASDAQ:PTNR) (TASE:PTNR), a leading Israeli mobile communications operator, announces that on August 18, 2014 the Ministry of Communications published hearings regarding proposed amendments to telecommunications licenses granted to various operators, including the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Licenses", the "Licensees", and the "Hearings", respectively).
As part of the Hearings, it is proposed to amend the Licenses to add requirements and to intensify the requirements set in the Licenses with respect to the quality of service of the Licensees' call centers. The amendments include, among others, the following matters: the maximum response times and the average daily response times; recording requirement regarding a billing inquiry, termination of all services or termination of a single service calls; and requirement to issue and to publish on the Licensees' websites detailed weekly reports that will include complete data in relation to their conduct regarding response times.
The Licensees may submit their position to the Hearings by September 18, 2014.
In parallel to the Hearings, the Ministry of Communications published a draft memorandum with respect to the Israeli Telecommunications Law (the "Draft Memorandum"), according to which a subscriber will be able to sue for fixed compensation in case a Licensee fails to meet the proposed response times and for compensation in case of erroneous billing, both without proving damages.
The Company is studying the content of the Hearings and the Draft Memorandum and is preparing for the submission of its position regarding the Hearings and the Draft Memorandum. At this stage, the Company is unable to evaluate the scope of investments and expenses required in order to comply with the terms of the draft amendments to the Licenses that were attached to the Hearings and the provisions of the Draft Memorandum, insofar as these drafts will be adopted "as is" at the end of the hearing process.
Forward-Looking Statements
This
press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of
the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor
provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek",
"will", "plan", "could", "may", "project", "goal", "target" and similar
expressions often identify forward-looking statements but are not the
only way we identify these statements. All statements other than
statements of historical fact included in this press release regarding
our future performance, plans to increase revenues or margins or
preserve or expand market share in existing or new markets, plans to
reduce expenses, and any statements regarding other future events or our
future prospects, are forward-looking statements.
We have
based these forward-looking statements on our current knowledge and our
present beliefs and expectations regarding possible future events. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and
assumptions about Partner, consumer habits and preferences in cellular
telephone usage, trends in the Israeli telecommunications industry in
general, the impact of current global economic conditions and possible
regulatory and legal developments. In light of these risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in
this press release might not occur, and actual results may differ
materially from the results anticipated. For further information
regarding the above-mentioned risks, uncertainties and assumptions and
other risks we face, see "Item 3. Key Information - 3D. Risk Factors",
"Item 4. Information on the Company", "Item 5. Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects", "Item 8. Financial Information - 8A. Consolidated
Financial Statements and Other Financial Information - 8A.1 Legal and
Administrative Proceedings" and "Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures about Market Risk" in the Company's Annual Reports on Form
20-F filed with the SEC, as well as its current reports on Form 6-K
furnished to the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
About Partner Communications
Partner
Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner") is a leading Israeli provider of
telecommunications services (cellular, fixed-line telephony and internet
services) under the orange™ brand and the 012 Smile brand. Partner’s
ADSs are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market™ and its shares are
traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NASDAQ and TASE: PTNR). For more
information about Partner, see: www.orange.co.il/en/Investors-Relations/lobby/