Italy considering cap in tenders for broadband rollout: Sources

ROME: Italy could limit the areas a single broadband provider can win in tenders for those places where high-speed services are offered by one operator, three sources close to the matter said.

The move being considered by Innovation Minister Vittorio Colao aims to promote competition, as Rome prepares to deploy almost 7 billion euros ($8 billion) of European recovery funds to expand ultra-fast connectivity, the sources told Reuters.

One option under discussion envisages a 50% cap, meaning a single bidder could not secure more than half of the single-provider areas, known as “grey areas”, one of the sources said adding the scheme was not final.