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Israel: Wireless firms talk infrastructure agreement

By  |  May 4, 2014

American Tower Corporation is reported to be in discussions with Israel-based wireless operators Cellcom Israel and Pelephone Communications to acquire the companies’ infrastructure and lease it back to them.

According to reports, the sell and lease-back deal could appease the nation’s antitrust regulator, which has previously raised concerns over the companies’ network sharing deal. Reports say such a lease-back agreement would facilitate the operators’ plans to lower operating costs.

American Tower declined to comment on the alleged talks. The company operates on a business model that allows communications firms to no longer invest in infrastructure needs.

Antirust regulators were previously concerned over Cellcom and Pelephone’s plans to build a joint 4G network, a deal that has not yet earned approval from the Antitrust Authority.

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