Metroweb plans to invest €4bn (US$4.6bn) to €5bn (US$5.7bn) in high-speed network infrastructure, in line with the government’s objective to speed up nation-wide fibre deployment.
Aldo Bisio, the CEO of Vodafone’s Italian unit, was quoted saying…
Metroweb plans to invest €4bn (US$4.6bn) to €5bn (US$5.7bn) in high-speed network infrastructure, in line with the government’s objective to speed up nation-wide fibre deployment.
Aldo Bisio, the CEO of Vodafone’s Italian unit, was quoted saying on the sidelines of an event: “Talks to define the business plan of Metroweb Sviluppo[Metroweb Italia’s fully owned subsidiary] are almost finished and envisage €4bn to €5bn of investments to build a network in line with the government’s indications.”
Vodafone, Wind Telecomunicazioni and Metroweb signed a letter of intent last month laying the groundwork for an Italian fibre newco.
In the statement, the signatories left the door open to other operators and investors interested in joining the group project. Metroweb and Vodafone signed a similar agreement in March, while Telecom Italia has so far declined to participate.
Bisio reportedly said governance and financial issues must be clarified before the plan is implemented.
The Italian government was expected to publish a decree specifying the financial incentives and tax breaks available as part of its €12bn (US$13.7bn) broadband plan in early June. However, latest rumours suggest that the decree is unlikely to be approved before the end of the summer.
