Colao says Italy needs a more robust national telecommunications network

Italy needs a more robust national telecommunications network, said Innovation Minister Vittorio Colao on Saturday. He stated that as long as competition in the industry is preserved, this may be accomplished by combining Telecom Italia and Open Fiber assets.

Italy has asked the European Commission to draft laws requiring Big Tech businesses to contribute to the financing of communications infrastructure in the EU. As part of its intentions to create a single national network champion, CDP is drafting a non-binding bid for Telecom Italia’s fixed grid.

The long-planned project is being funded by Italy’s departing government, which is led by Prime Minister Mario Draghi. According to reports, the first estimate for TIM’s network assets would not exceed 20 billion euros ($19.9 billion).