The tower JV between TIM and Fastweb + Vodafone builds on a preliminary RAN sharing settlement signed earlier this 12 months
In sum – what to know:
As much as 6,000 towers deliberate – TIM and Fastweb + Vodafone intention to increase tower infrastructure to assist 5G protection and capability throughout Italy.
JV construction – A 50-50 entity will handle property, with potential for exterior buyers to optimize financing over time.
Open-access mannequin adopted – Infrastructure will probably be out there to third-party operators, supporting broader community deployment and value effectivity.
Italian operators TIM and Fastweb + Vodafone have signed a non-binding settlement to develop and handle new cellular tower infrastructure in Italy, with plans to construct as much as 6,000 websites. The initiative is geared toward supporting nationwide 5G deployment whereas enhancing infrastructure effectivity.
The challenge is anticipated to be executed by a collectively owned entity between TIM and Fastweb + Vodafone. The businesses famous that they could later take into account bringing in third-party buyers to strengthen the enterprise’s monetary construction. The towers will function below an open-access mannequin, permitting different telecom operators to make use of the infrastructure.
The pair additionally acknowledged that building will observe a multi-year rollout plan, with each events performing as anchor tenants below long-term agreements. The businesses additionally indicated they could discover further providers linked to the infrastructure.
The initiative is meant to align prices extra carefully with European benchmarks whereas sustaining community high quality and supporting continued funding in next-generation networks. The settlement stays topic to regulatory approvals.
The settlement between the 2 carriers builds on a preliminary RAN sharing settlement signed earlier this 12 months with the intention of enhancing effectivity and increase the nation’s 5G infrastructure.
Beneath the phrases of the settlement, which is topic to a ultimate contract anticipated by the second quarter of 2026, the pair goals to make extra environment friendly use of current infrastructure within the nation whereas increasing protection, notably in much less densely populated areas. The challenge would require approval from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), the Italian Competitors Authority (AGCM), and the Italian Communications Authority (AGCom).
Beneath the proposed mannequin, Fastweb+Vodafone will concentrate on extending 5G protection to municipalities with fewer than 35,000 residents. Every operator will probably be answerable for community growth throughout 10 areas. By the tip of 2028, the partnership is anticipated to lead to round 15,500 cellular websites per operator, the companions stated.
The biggest tower firm in Italy is Inwit, which operates greater than 25,000 telecom towers throughout the nation. Inwit at the moment has Telecom Italia and Fastweb + Vodafone amongst its clients.