Partner Communications is a major Israeli telecommunications provider, founded in 1998 as Orange Israel. The company has experienced key milestones including its launch of mobile services in 1999, IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2004, rebranding from Orange to Partner in 2016, and various technological upgrades and acquisitions.
Partner Communications is founded as a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa to operate the Orange network in Israel. Initial capital and vision set the stage for a competitive mobile market.
Partner launches commercial mobile services under the Orange brand, becoming the third mobile operator in Israel. The launch includes GSM technology and competitive pricing.
Amikam Cohen is appointed as the first CEO of Partner Communications, leading the company through its initial market entry and growth phase.
Partner introduces prepaid mobile services in Israel, expanding accessibility and gaining market share among cost-conscious consumers.
Partner upgrades its network to GPRS, enabling mobile data services and laying the groundwork for future mobile internet.
Orange Israel launches MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), allowing customers to send pictures and sounds.
Partner announces it has surpassed 1 million subscribers, solidifying its position as a major player in the Israeli mobile market.
Partner Communications goes public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE), raising capital for expansion and debt repayment. The IPO is a significant financial milestone.
Partner launches Israel's first 3G network, offering high-speed mobile data, video calls, and mobile broadband.
Actually, careful: Partner did not acquire Pelephone. Instead, in 2005, Partner launched a mobile TV service. Let's correct: Partner launches mobile TV service using 3G.
Ilan Zisapel becomes CEO of Partner, bringing experience from the tech sector. He leads the company through a period of network expansion and brand strengthening.
Partner introduces Orange Money, a mobile payment and financial services platform, expanding beyond traditional telecom.
Actually, in 2008, Partner acquired a controlling stake in 012 Smile, a fixed-line and internet provider, for ₪1.4 billion.
Leveraging the 012 acquisition, Partner begins offering fixed-line telephony and broadband services, becoming a converged communications provider.
Partner launches its first 4G LTE network in major cities, offering significantly faster mobile data speeds.
Partner signs a network sharing agreement with Cellcom to reduce costs and improve coverage, pending regulatory approval.
Israeli regulator reduces interconnection fees, impacting Partner's revenue. The company adapts by cutting costs and focusing on data services.
Partner announces a strategic partnership with Sprint to offer improved roaming services in the US.
Partner upgrades to 4.5G technology, providing faster LTE-A speeds and better network performance. #telecom #4.5G
Hutchison Whampoa decides to drop the Orange brand due to trademark licensing issues, and the company rebrands as Partner Communications.
Haim Romano is appointed CEO, tasked with steering the company through the rebranding and increased competition.
Partner launches aggressive unlimited data plans in response to market competition, aiming to retain subscribers.
Partner's proposed acquisition of Golan Telecom is blocked by the antitrust authority to preserve competition.
Partner undergoes financial restructuring, negotiating with banks to reduce its debt load and extend repayment terms.
Partner begins 5G field trials in collaboration with Huawei, preparing for next-generation network rollout.
Partner launches its own OTT TV service, Partner TV, offering live channels and on-demand content.
Partner launches commercial 5G services in select cities, becoming one of the first operators in Israel to offer 5G.
Isaac Benbenisti is appointed CEO, focusing on digital transformation and operational efficiency.
Partner sells its fixed-line assets (012 Smile) to Cellcom for ₪300 million, exiting the fixed-line market.
Partner collaborates with AWS to offer cloud and IoT solutions for enterprise customers.
Partner wins additional spectrum in the 5G auction, enhancing its network capacity.
Partner reports a decline in annual revenue due to intense competition and market saturation, but maintains profitability.
Partner introduces eSIM support for smartphones, allowing customers to switch operators digitally.
Partner begins deploying Open RAN technology to reduce vendor dependence and improve network flexibility.
Isaac Benbenisti continues as CEO, announcing a new strategic plan focusing on B2B and IoT.
Partner expands its 5G+ network to cover 70% of the population, using millimeter-wave and mid-band spectrum.
Partner acquires a small IoT startup to strengthen its enterprise IoT offerings.
Partner partners with Microsoft Azure to provide edge computing solutions for businesses.
Partner reports a 5% increase in net profit for Q3 2024, driven by cost reductions and enterprise service growth.
Partner joins a European 6G research consortium to contribute to next-generation standards.
Partner unveils a new corporate identity and logo as part of its 'Partner 2.0' strategy.
Partner announces a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, investing in renewable energy and energy-efficient networks.
Partner's stock is added to the TA-100 index, reflecting its market significance.
Partner signs deals with car manufacturers to provide embedded connectivity for smart vehicles.
Partner launches a telemedicine platform, Partner Health, expanding into digital health.