Italy focus on single network may delay Open Fiber spend: Paper

MILAN: Italy’s push to create a single network operator could delay broadband investments and Rome should instead focus on bringing fast Internet into all homes to bridge the digital gap with Europe, the head of Open Fiber told Il Messaggero daily.

The Italian government sees building an ultra-fast broadband network as crucial to reviving its coronavirus-hit economy.

It has called on Telecom Italia and smaller rival Open Fiber, a wholesale-only broadband operator jointly-owned by Enel and state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), to reach an accord quickly on creating a single ultra-fast broadband network to avoid costly duplication of investments.