Bezeq

Bezeq is an Israeli telecommunications company and the principal brand of the Bezeq Group. Established in 1984, it developed from Israel's former state-controlled telecommunications infrastructure and became the country's dominant fixed-line operator. Its business has expanded beyond traditional voice services into broadband Internet, fiber transmission, mobile communications through group subsidiaries, directory assistance and pay television through Yes. For much of its early history, Bezeq held a monopoly over Israel's fixed-line telephone network and important Internet-access infrastructure. The company remained highly influential after the market opened to competitors, including the cable operator Hot and other telecommunications providers. Liberalization changed Bezeq's operating environment from a protected infrastructure monopoly into a regulated, competitive communications market, but the company continued to possess a substantial network, customer base and national presence. Bezeq was privatized in 2005, when the Israeli state sold 30 percent of its shares to the Apax-Saban-Arkin investment group. In 2010, that controlling interest was sold to B Communications, a company associated at the time with Shaul Elovitch's Eurocom Group. The ownership structure later became connected to financial pressure on Eurocom and to the corporate and regulatory controversies surrounding Bezeq's acquisition of Yes. Those events culminated in a major Israeli corruption investigation known as Case 4000, which involved allegations concerning dealings between Bezeq-related interests and the Ministry of Communications. Several directors resigned in 2018, and chief executive Stella Handler announced her departure while under investigation. The group has also used acquisitions and adjacent services to broaden its consumer proposition. It acquired full ownership of the Internet portal Walla! Communications in 2012 and sold the business in 2020. In 2015, Bezeq acquired the remaining shares of Yes for 680 million Israeli new shekels, giving it full ownership of one of Israel's leading television providers. Through its wider group, Bezeq therefore combines network infrastructure with consumer connectivity, mobile, television and digital services. It also operates B144, a directory-enquiries service. Bezeq has participated in communications infrastructure and broadcasting experiments as well. Between 1996 and 2008 it operated a national digital audio broadcasting multiplex on a test basis. The service carried public radio and Israel Defense Forces stations at different times, but ended after the Ministry of Communications sought a national DAB+ multiplex and received no applications. The country did not adopt a national DAB system by 2021. The company remains listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under BEZQ and is included in the Tel Aviv 35 Index. Its commercial positioning is that of a broad, infrastructure-led Israeli communications provider: it combines a nationwide fixed network and broadband capabilities with group services in mobile, television and digital communications. Its activities and infrastructure have also drawn criticism from organizations and investors concerned about services supplied in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and other occupied territories.

Bezeq was established in 1984 as Israel's national telecommunications company. During its state-controlled period, it operated the country's principal fixed-line network and held a monopoly over landline telephony and key Internet-access infrastructure. This position made Bezeq central to everyday communications while also exposing it to consumer criticism. In the late 1980s, Anat Hoffman organized a customer-advocacy group in response to the company's failure to provide itemized bills. Consumers brought dozens of small-claims cases and won most of them; within roughly two years, Bezeq began issuing itemized bills. The regulatory environment changed during the 1990s and 2000s. Bezeq faced competition from Hot, the country's cable operator, and later from additional Internet and telecommunications providers. The company nevertheless retained a major role because of its national fixed infrastructure and established customer base. Between 1996 and 2008, it also operated a trial national DAB digital-radio multiplex. The multiplex carried stations including Kol Yisrael and Israel Defense Forces radio services at different points. The trial ended after the Ministry of Communications sought a DAB+ national multiplex but received no applications. A decisive structural change came with privatization. On 9 May 2005, the Israeli state sold 30 percent of Bezeq to the Apax-Saban-Arkin investment group for approximately US$972 million. In April 2010, that controlling interest was sold to B Communications, then connected with Shaul Elovitch's Eurocom Group, for approximately US$1.75 billion. B Communications subsequently served as the holding company for Bezeq. Financial difficulties affecting Eurocom later created pressure around the ownership structure, including reported bank efforts to address loans and possible interest from outside investors. Bezeq expanded into adjacent digital and entertainment businesses. In April 2012 it obtained full ownership of Walla! Communications, a leading Israeli Internet portal. The company later disposed of the investment, selling its entire stake in December 2020. In February 2015, Bezeq bought the remaining ownership of Yes for 680 million Israeli new shekels. This transaction brought Israel's leading satellite and pay-TV provider fully into the Bezeq group and strengthened the group's ability to offer bundled communications and entertainment services. The Yes transaction also became part of a major regulatory and criminal investigation. In 2018, the Israel Securities Authority and Israel Police investigated Bezeq-related employees and directors over alleged improper dealings involving the acquisition and the Ministry of Communications. The investigation became associated with Case 4000, a broader corruption case involving former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Stella Handler announced that she would leave the chief executive position, and Shaul Elovitch, Or Elovitch and Orna Elovitch resigned from Bezeq's board in the same period. Bezeq has also faced scrutiny over its activities in Israeli settlements. Sampension, a Danish pension provider, excluded Bezeq from investment in 2017. In 2020, the United Nations published a database identifying companies it said were connected with settlement activity, listing Bezeq for providing services and utilities supporting settlements and for business-related use of natural resources. In 2021, Norway's KLP pension fund announced that it would divest from Bezeq. These actions reflect political and human-rights controversy surrounding the company's infrastructure footprint rather than a change to its core telecommunications model. Today, Bezeq remains an active, publicly traded Israeli telecommunications group. Its offerings include fixed-line voice, broadband and fiber transmission, mobile services through group operations, pay television through Yes and directory assistance through B144. The company is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under BEZQ and is included in the Tel Aviv 35 Index.

1. 2021KLP announces divestment

   KLP announces that it will divest from Bezeq over concerns relating to Israeli settlement activity.

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2. 2020Walla! stake is sold

   Bezeq sells its entire ownership interest in Walla! Communications.

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3. 2018Leadership departures accompany Case 4000 scrutiny

   Stella Handler announces her departure as CEO, while several Elovitch-linked directors resign amid investigations involving Bezeq, Yes and the Ministry of Communications.

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4. 2015Bezeq takes full ownership of Yes

   Bezeq acquires the remaining shares of pay-TV company Yes.

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5. 2012Walla! Communications becomes wholly owned

   Bezeq acquires full ownership of Internet portal Walla! Communications.

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6. 2010B Communications acquires the controlling interest

   B Communications acquires the controlling interest previously held by the Apax-Saban-Arkin group.

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7. 2008DAB trial ends

   The company's national DAB trial ends after the Ministry of Communications seeks a DAB+ tender that attracts no applications.

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8. 2005Bezeq is privatized

   The Israeli state sells 30 percent of Bezeq to the Apax-Saban-Arkin investment group.

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9. 1996National DAB radio multiplex trial begins

   Bezeq begins operating a trial national digital audio broadcasting multiplex in Israel.

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10. 1984Bezeq is established

    Bezeq is founded as Israel's national telecommunications company and becomes the central operator of the country's fixed-line network.

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11. 1980Consumer billing campaign leads to itemized bills

    A customer-advocacy campaign associated with Anat Hoffman challenged Bezeq's non-itemized billing practices; following successful small-claims cases, the company began issuing itemized bills within approximately two years.

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A leading Israeli, infrastructure-based telecommunications group offering integrated connectivity, Internet, mobile and pay-TV services.

• Fixed-line telephonyTelecommunications1984

  Bezeq's traditional fixed-line telephone business is built on the national network it operated as Israel's former state telecommunications monopoly. Although competition emerged from cable and alternative telecommunications providers, fixed-line voice remains one of the company's core service areas.

• Broadband and fiber InternetInternet access

  The company provides high-speed Internet connectivity and fiber transmission services. Broadband infrastructure was historically associated with Bezeq's dominant position in Israel's ADSL and VDSL2 access network, while later offerings reflect the market's movement toward faster fixed and fiber connectivity.

• Mobile telephonyMobile communications

  Mobile communications are part of the Bezeq Group's broader telecommunications portfolio. The reference material describes mobile telephony as a group offering, although it does not identify a separate mobile brand or provide detailed product-generation information.

• Yes pay televisionPay television2015

  Yes is an Israeli pay-TV provider brought fully into the Bezeq Group in 2015 when Bezeq acquired the remaining ownership interest. Its inclusion expanded Bezeq's portfolio from connectivity and communications infrastructure into television and bundled entertainment services.

• B144Directory assistance

  B144 is Bezeq's directory-enquiries service. It extends the group's consumer communications role beyond network access by helping users locate telephone and business information.

• 1980Consumer itemized-billing campaign

  Israel

  A customer-advocacy group associated with Anat Hoffman challenged Bezeq's practice of not sending itemized bills. Consumers filed 46 small-claims cases and won 43, contributing to the company's adoption of itemized billing within approximately two years.

  Outcome. Bezeq began providing itemized bills.

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• 2020Sale of Walla! CommunicationsM&A

  Bezeq had owned Walla! Communications in full since 2012.

  What changed. Bezeq sold its entire stake in Walla! Communications.

  Aftermath. The divestment reduced Bezeq's direct exposure to Internet-portal operations and returned the group toward its core communications and infrastructure businesses.

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• 2015Full acquisition of YesM&A

  Yes was described as Israel's leading television provider and was already connected with Bezeq's ownership structure.

  What changed. Bezeq acquired the remaining shares of Yes and obtained full ownership.

  Aftermath. Yes became the group's pay-TV business, strengthening Bezeq's ability to combine connectivity with television services. The transaction later became part of regulatory and criminal investigations.

  Acquisition price. NIS 680 million (2015)

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• 2012Full acquisition of Walla! CommunicationsM&A

  Walla! was a leading Israeli Internet portal with more than 2.5 million monthly unique users according to the reference material.

  What changed. Bezeq acquired the remaining ownership interest and took full ownership of Walla! Communications.

  Aftermath. The acquisition expanded Bezeq's presence into Internet content and portal services before the investment was sold in 2020.

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• 2010Sale of controlling interest to B CommunicationsM&A

  The Apax-Saban-Arkin group held the controlling interest following privatization.

  What changed. The controlling interest was sold to B Communications, then associated with Eurocom Group.

  Aftermath. B Communications became Bezeq's holding company and the ownership structure later became entangled with Eurocom's financial difficulties.

  Transaction value. Approximately US$1.75 billion (2010)

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• 2005Privatization through sale of a state stakeM&A

  Bezeq had operated as Israel's state-controlled national telecommunications company and dominant fixed-line provider.

  What changed. The Israeli state sold 30 percent of Bezeq to the Apax-Saban-Arkin investment group.

  Aftermath. The transaction transferred Bezeq into private ownership and began a new phase of shareholder control.

  Transaction value. Approximately US$972 million (2005)

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• 2021KLP divestment over settlement concernsControversy

  Norwegian pension fund KLP announced divestment from Bezeq, citing the company's inclusion in the United Nations database and concerns over links to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

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• 2020United Nations settlement-related database listingControversy

  The United Nations listed Bezeq in a database of companies it identified as contributing to settlement activity in occupied territories through services, utilities and business-related use of natural resources. The listing led to scrutiny from responsible-investment organizations.

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• 2018Case 4000 and investigations into the Yes transactionControversy

  Bezeq employees and directors were investigated by Israeli authorities over alleged improper dealings connected with the acquisition of Yes and the Ministry of Communications. The matter became associated with Case 4000, a wider corruption investigation involving former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The reference material does not establish a final legal disposition.

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• 2020Bezeq sells Walla! Communications

  Bezeq sold its entire stake in Walla! Communications after owning the portal for approximately eight years.

  M&A
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• 2020Bezeq divests Walla! Communications

  The company sold its entire stake in Walla! Communications after owning the internet portal for roughly eight years.

  M&A
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• 2015Bezeq acquires the remaining ownership of Yes

  Bezeq acquired full ownership of pay-TV provider Yes for 680 million Israeli new shekels.

  M&AProduct generation
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• 2015Bezeq acquires full ownership of Yes

  Bezeq acquired the remaining ownership of Israeli pay-television provider Yes, integrating the television business more fully into the group.

  M&AProduct launch
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• 2012Bezeq acquires full ownership of Walla! Communications

  Bezeq completed the acquisition of the Israeli Internet portal Walla! Communications.

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• 2010B Communications acquires controlling interest in Bezeq

  The Apax-Saban-Arkin group's controlling interest was sold to B Communications, a subsidiary associated at the time with Eurocom Group, for approximately US$1.75 billion.

  M&A
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• 2010Controlling interest in Bezeq is sold to B Communications

  The Apax-Saban-Arkin group sold its controlling interest in Bezeq to B Communications, a company associated with Eurocom Group.

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• 2005Israeli state sells a 30 percent stake in Bezeq

  The Government Companies Authority privatized Bezeq by selling 30 percent of the company to the Apax-Saban-Arkin investment group for approximately US$972 million.

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• 2005Bezeq is privatized through the sale of a 30 percent state stake

  The Israeli government sold 30 percent of Bezeq to the Apax-Saban-Arkin investment group, ending state ownership of the company.

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1. Bezeq
2. Bezeq corporate website