Hot to get ISP licence

Israeli cable operator Hot is to be granted an ISP licence by the country’s Ministry of Communications.

Hot will receive the licence once incumbent telco Bezeq is granted a permit to offer triple-play services, according to local reports.

The Ministry of Communications has so far hesitated in granting Hot the licence because of a dispute over the company’s structure and how it plans to sell internet services. The Ministry has expressed concern that Hot could provide both internet connectivity and triple-play services, which could adversely impact existing ISPs and give Hot a marketing advantage over Bezeq, which is currently unable to offer triple-play packages.