Wind and Fastweb sign network sharing deal

Italian telcos Wind and Fastweb have signed a network sharing agreement.

The agreement covers local loop unbundled exchanges and fibre optic infrastructure. Fastweb said the aim of the agreement was to “rationalise network costs following recent decisions on unbundling fees”, which relates to Telecom Italia’s decision to increase unbundling fees. This, Fastweb said, was harmful to competition in Italy’s fixed-line market because alternative telcos are struggling to make further investments in areas outside their networks. “With this agreement,” Fastweb said, “the two companies will make joint requests to Telecom Italia for the opening of access to unbundling.”

The agreement between the telcos also covers the mutual transfer of rights of use of civil infrastructure, dark fibre and other forms of transport capacity.