Communications Minister Ariel Atias is opening an immediate investigation into the conduct of communications companies over a lack of a free directory assistance service on the Internet.

The ministry stated: "The companies are dragging their feet in everything connected to the preparation of Internet information sites, which will provide services for free. But, at the same time and amazingly, they met the schedules for setting up the 1344 information service [see box], where they receive money for the service."

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Atias has already instructed the enforcement authorities in his ministry to open an immediate investigation into the matter.

The fierce criticism from officials over the lack of a free Internet directory has come about after communications companies met the ministry's schedule for establishing a paid information service, which began operating yesterday: Information 1344.

The companies were required to set up the service by February 8, and Bezeq succeeded in starting exactly on time.

The ministry says it is planning on examining the companies' handling of the matter, and will "use all of the means available to the ministry."

This is another example of the conflict between communications companies and the Communications Ministry over the ministry's instructions.

The conflict reached new heights in September 2006, when the firms broke the law by not meeting the deadline for the number portability plan - which was set in law - and had to appeal the matter to the High Court of Justice.

The free Internet directory service operations are meant to be provided by all of Israel's communication companies, either together or through a number of separate services, all of which must be connected to a central database of all the telephone companies - both cellular and landline.

The service will provide all of a subscriber's numbers regardless of the phone company - barring if the customer has requested that the numbers remain unlisted.