Telecom Italia may have to divest fibre optic networks to ensure Metroweb deal
Telecom Italia’s offer for a controlling stake in Metroweb, the fibre optic network serving Milan, could face antitrust obligations, Italian-language daily Milano Finanza reported without disclosing sources.
The Italian teleco has made an offer for the 53% stake in Metroweb held by F2i, the Italian infrastructure fund, according to the report.
If Telecom Italia takes over Metroweb the country's competition watchdog may make the deal conditional upon Telecom Italia selling off ibre optic networks in cities such as Milan, Genoa and Florence in order to preserve competition, the report added.
The Italian competition regulator has recently announced that it would not support takeovers in a strategic sector such as fibre optic communications if they reduced competition, the article noted.
F2i has given Metroweb an enterprise value of EUR 450m, according to a previous report.
Source Milano Finanza daily edition