Italy: Telecom Italia faces broadband antitrust probe

Telecom Italia (TIM) insisted late on Tuesday it has done nothing wrong, after Italy’s antitrust watchdog launched an inquiry into possible anticompetitive behaviour related to its rural fiber rollout.

L’Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) is investigating whether the incumbent obstructed government broadband tenders for fiber network deployments in unprofitable, so-called ‘white’ areas of the country. It is also investigating whether TIM attempted to preemptively lock customers into long-term, low-cost contracts to discourage competition.

“TIM…is certain to have acted in compliance with the rules and will demonstrate it in the appropriate venues,” said the company in a statement emailed to Total Telecom.

The Italian government launched three tenders to subsidise ultrafast network deployment in white areas, which were identified via a consultation in which TIM participated.

TIM signed up to the first tender but later withdrew, opting instead to roll out its own networks. This change riled the government because it calls into question the classification of white areas.

Full Content: Telecom Paper

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