The Ministry of Communications will authorise Bezeq to greatly reduce the deployment of public telephones

The Ministry of Communications intends to authorize Bezeq to greatly reduce the deployment of public telephones throughout the country due to minimal use of them. In recent years, the use of public telephones has decreased in the face of technological development, improving the deployment of cellular networks and the increase in the use of mobile telephones that enable available, convenient and inexpensive communication.
There are currently about 9,500 public landline telephones in Israel, scattered in the public space as required by flash regulations.
Data obtained by the ministry shows that about 83% of public telephones have a use of less than 100 minutes a month. These data indicate that the daily use of the public telephone in some places is very low and even in some places the public telephone is not used at all.
Bezeq and local government officials have asked the ministry to remove public telephones, for the reason that in the current reality in the communications market, there is no longer a need for such a broad retirement of public telephones, this is an unjustified economic burden and some of the public telephones placed in local councils decades ago Today a disturbance and even a nuisance in the public space.
The ministry issued a "call for proposals" in this matter and received comments from the public, including local authorities and public representatives. After examining all the references and examining the issue, it was found that there is no justification for placing new public telephones and there is no need for a broad retirement of existing public telephones. Accordingly, the Ministry of Communications has decided to amend Regulation 28 of the Flash Regulations, in a manner that will allow the reduction of the deployment of telephones in places where the scope of use does not justify their placement, while ensuring the continued provision of service where necessary.
As part of the changes, Bezeq will be required to submit to the Ministry of Communications, by the end of the first quarter of each year, a report detailing the public telephones that the company is obligated to remove in accordance with the proposed amendment, according to which Bezeq will be required to remove public telephones used for less than 100 minutes. In the month preceding the submission of the report. At the same time, Bezeq will be obligated to operate and maintain the public telephones that will not be removed.
Also, in special and individual cases, the director general of the ministry will have the authority to order the removal or operation of a public telephone, in order to provide a solution to cases where for reasons of public interest the public telephone must be removed or operated even without meeting the 100 minutes as stated above. Subject to notice to the Company and an opportunity for the Company to assert its claims before it on the matter.