Telecoms news from Italy

Telecom Italia Fined by Antitrust Authority

Italy's Telecom Italia has been hit with a EUR104 million fine by the Antitrust Authority after it was found guilty of having "abused its dominant position in network infrastructure". ...more.

No Deal on Italian Mobile Networks Merger for at Least Another Month

Any possible merger between Telecom Italia and Hutchison Whampoa's Italian mobile networks wont be discussed for at least another month. ...more.

Telecom Italia Unlikely to Discuss Hutchison Merger this Week

Telecom Italia is unlikely to discuss the proposed merger of its wireless network with that of Hutchison Whampoa's at this week's board meeting, a local newspaper has reported. ...more.

Sawiris Mulls Bid to Buy Back Wind Italy from VimpelCom

Egypt's Naguib Sawiris has said that it might be interested in buying back the Italian mobile network operator he sold in 2011 to Russia's VimpelCom. ...more.

Telecom Italia Confirms Talks Underway with Hutchison 3G Italy

Italy's Telecom Italia has confirmed that it is in talks with Hutchison Whampoa to study a possible integration with 3 Italia. ...more.

Mobile Credit Card Processor Raises Investment Funding

A mobile credit card payments processor, Jusp says that it has raised US$6 million in fresh funding to launch and accelerate its development. ...more.

Fitch Affirms Telecom Italia at 'BBB'; Outlook Negative

The Negative Outlook for TI underlines Fitch's concerns that TI continues to be dependent on a weak Italian economy, and after the recently announced dividend cut, has limited debt reduction options in future to address further deterioration in the business. ...more.

Fitch Affirms Telecom Italia at 'BBB'; Outlook Negative

The affirmation reflects that the company's intention to strengthen the balance sheet by halving shareholder dividends and issuing EUR3bn of hybrid bonds in the next 24 months partly offsets the weaker than expected domestic performance. ...more.

Vodafone Italy to Sell PrePay SIM Cards in Tobacconists

Vodafone Italy has signed a deal that will see its prepay topup cards offered for sale in over 56,000 tobacco retailers across the country. ...more.

Telecom Italia Rejects Investment Offer by Naguib Sawiris

Italy's Telecom Italia has formally rejected an offer by Egypt's Naguib Sawiris to take a stake of up to US$4 billion in the company. ...more.

Fitch: Telecom Italia's Q312 Results are Mixed

Fitch Ratings says that Telecom Italia's Q312 results showed management's commitment to reducing debt, but the challenge operating environment means that the end-2013 net debt target of EUR25bn may still be difficult to achieve. ...more.

Telecom Italia Confirms Investment Offer from Egypt's Naguib Sawiris

Italy's Telecom Italia has confirmed that it has received an approach from Egypt's Naguib Sawiris which could lead to his company taking a stake in the debt-laden company. ...more.

Wind Italy Ratings Downgraded on Competitive Presures

The downgrade reflects Fitch's expectations that Wind will not be able to maintain stable EBITDA and free cash flow (FCF) generation in the face of mobile termination rate (MTR) cuts, intensifying competitive pressures and bleak macroeconomic prospects in Italy. ...more.

Telecom Italia to Launch LTE Services Next Month

Italy's Telecom Italia has announced that it will launch its LTE network on the 7th November, with coverage initially available in Rome, Milan, Turin and Naples. ...more.

Operators in Italy Focus on Launching LTE Services

Following the spectrum auction in September 2011, operators in Italy are focusing on launching LTE services driving 3G+ subscriptions to 75% of all SIMs in 2017, ...more.

Moody's changes Wind's rating outlook to negative from stable

Wind's ratings continues to reflect the company's (i) solid market share of the telecommunications services in Italy and its strong competitive positioning vis-ŕ-vis its main competitors, ...more.

Fitch Affirms Telecom Italia at 'BBB'; Outlook Negative

Fitch said that the affirmation is based on TI's ability to preserve cash flow generation and keeping a focus on deleveraging while facing increasing competition and the effects of austerity in its domestic market. ...more.

Fitch: Impact of Possible Telecom Italia Network Spin-off Unclear

Fitch Ratings says that the impact of a possible spin-off of Telecom Italia's (TI) fixed-line network on the company's credit rating is unclear given different possible outcomes. ...more.

Investigation into Collusion Allegations Against Italian Mobile Networks

Italy's anti-trust authority has confirmed that it has launched a probe into allegations that the country's three largest mobile networks colluded to block the launch of an MVNO. ...more.

Amazon Expands Android App Store into Europe

Amazon has announced the expansion of its own Android Appstore into the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. ...more.