A new round of rumours concerning Telecom Italia’s interest in acquiring fibre provider Metroweb have emerged this week.
Unnamed sources cited in a Bloomberg report on Thursday claimed that the Italian incumbent’s board will meet on 16 October to discuss buying a 40% stake in Metroweb, which operates a 7,200-km dark fibre network in Milan, leasing access to telcos.
According to the report, Telecom Italia may eventually increase its holding to 60%, then finally 100% over a five year period.
Metroweb is controlled by infrastructure fund F2i, which owns a 53.8% stake in Metroweb Italia, which in turn owns 87.7% of Metroweb. Fondo Strategico Italiano (FSI) owns the other 46.2% of Metroweb Italia. A controlling stake in the company is thought to be worth around €400 million.
Telecom Italia was also linked with a move from Metroweb in October 2014, and reportedly sent an expression of interest regarding a controlling stake in the company in November.
It rekindled its interest in Metroweb in March this year, only to be rebuffed by FSI in April.
