Cellcom won the bid as the mobile telephone provider for the IDF, which is currently operated by the MIRS Company. A new tender was announced as the Defense Ministry seeks to lower the rates paid by the military in a cost-saving measure. There are many employees of the military who use official phones, including most officers. Officials report there are tens of thousands of military phones in use.

The contract with Cellcom is for three years with an option to extend it to seven years. MIRS, which has been servicing the military for the past six years did not submit a bid.

Under the new contract, military phones will be charged 5.1 agorot a minute and 0.3 agorot per SMS text message. The monthly charge for the phone will be 14 NIS.

Military officials are pleased, explaining the new rate is considerably lower than current rates and this will save millions of NIS annually.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)