Motorola Wants Israeli Mobile Network Bid by Mid-Sept

­Motorola is reported to have told potential buyers that they have until the middle of this month to submit their bids for Israeli mobile network operator, MIRS. All three of Isreal's incumbent operators are understood to be interested in acquiring the iDEN based mobile network operator, which has been previously valued at around US$300 million.

The local Globes newspaper reported that the cellular operators have decided to ignore this regulatory problem for now, and are pursuing the tender as if no objections are anticipated.

The companies feel that if a regulatory problem arises, it can be solved if and when there is deal. For now, there is no reason not to try to persuade the Ministry of Communications and the Antitrust Authority to approve it.

MIRS Communications operates an iDEN network, supplied by Motorola but has been looking to switch to a 3G technology.

Israel's Ministry of Communications is currently holding a consultation to decide how to allocate a batch of unused 3G radio spectrum. The move has been prompted by a request from MIRS Communications after it was earlier blocked from bidding for WiMAX licenses.

According to figures from the Mobile World database, the company ended last year with an estimated 441,000 subscribers - representing a market share of just under 5%.

On the web: Globes - Mobile World

Posted to the site on 7th September 2009