Vodafone, Wind and dark fibre firm Metroweb investors CdP and F2i have signed a letter of intent laying the groundwork for an Italian fibre newco, the companies announced on Friday evening.
In the statement, the signatories left the door open to other…
Vodafone, Wind and dark fibre firm Metroweb investors CdP and F2i have signed a letter of intent laying the groundwork for an Italian fibre newco, the companies announced on Friday evening.
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.
The Italian government is this week expected to publish a decree specifying the financial incentives and tax breaks available as part of its €12bn broadband plan. Vodafone, Wind and Metroweb did not provide information on the timing or value of their planned investment.
Heavily indebted Wind is in the meantime locked in merger talks with 3 Italia to create an “equal joint venture”.
Telecom Italia is for its part in early-stage talks with Enel over a possible collaboration that would see the utility group open up its existing infrastructure to house fibre optic cables.
As such, the incumbent could go head to head with the newly allied tripartite in the race to deploy high speed broadband.