TEXT-Israel's 012 Smile seeks cellular license

Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:08am EDT

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(The following was issued by Israel's 012 Smile.Communications Ltd (SMLC.O) (SMLC.TA)):

March 19 - 012 Smile.Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ Global Market and TASE: SMLC) today announced that following the public disclosure of the recommendations of the Gronow Committee to the minister of communications and following the minister's announcement with respect to VoB over cellular, the company has applied to the minister of communications to extend its current licenses and/or to receive additional ones for the following services:

- Cellular services as an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator)

- Mobile communication services through WiMax and WiFi technology

- IP based mobile communication services (Cellular VoB)

- ISP services over GSM

The company believes that such requests to the minister of communications is in accordance with the recommendations of the Gronow Committee with respect to encouraging competition in the mobile segment.

The company notes that currently there are no similar issued licenses or a legal mechanism to obtain such licenses and that the minister of communications may not accept any or all of the recommendations of the Gronow Committee and may view such recommendations in a different manner from the approach taken by the company in its application.