The phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar phosphotransferase system (sugar PTS), a major carbohydrate active transport system, catalyzes the phosphorylation of incoming sugar substrates concomitantly with their translocation across the cell membrane (By similarity). Involved in cellobiose transport with PtcA and CelB. This system can also transport lactose (PubMed:17909747, PubMed:21262549). D-cellobiose(out) + N(pros)-phospho-L-histidyl-[protein] = 6-phospho-beta-D-glucosyl-(1->4)-D-glucose(in) + L-histidyl-[protein] Induced by growth on cellobiose. Negativelly controled by the CcpA regulator (PubMed:17909747, PubMed:21262549). Also induced in response to galactose (PubMed:21262549). The PTS EIIB type-3 domain is phosphorylated by phospho-EIIA on a cysteinyl residue. Then, it transfers the phosphoryl group to the sugar substrate concomitantly with the sugar uptake processed by the PTS EIIC type-3 domain. Disruption of the gene abolishes growth on lactose and severely impairs growth on cellobiose.