Bezeq Israel Telecom reported a 46 percent increase in quarterly profit, reaching 427 million shekels, as it nears completion of a four-year nationwide fibre-optic network rollout. The company saw growth in its core revenue and a significant rise in subscribers to its fibre service, now covering nearly 2.9 million homes. Bezeq's chairman expressed optimism about regulatory approval for a proposed acquisition of a rival mobile operator and anticipated a decision on a long-sought merger of its infrastructure unit. The company also raised its profit forecast for next year following regulatory moves to ease wholesale fibre costs and announced a dividend for shareholders.