Italy’s competition authority, the AGCM, has officially launched an investigation into a strategic partnership between Telecom Italia (TIM) and Fastweb, the Italian subsidiary of Swisscom. The probe aims to determine if the telecommunications giants’ plan to jointly build and share a national 5G network violates domestic and European competition laws. This inquiry follows a preliminary agreement announced earlier this year where the two companies intended to share mobile networks and accelerate the rollout of 5G technology, particularly in less populated areas across the country.
The regulator stated in its weekly bulletin that it has decided to assess whether the agreement constitutes a breach of competition laws, with a deadline for the investigation set for April 2027. This collaboration between TIM and Fastweb is part of a broader trend of infrastructure sharing in the telecom sector, which companies argue is necessary to offset the massive costs associated with 5G deployment. However, regulators often remain wary that such deep cooperation could lead to price synchronization or reduced incentives for individual companies to innovate.
The timing of the investigation is particularly significant given the shifting landscape of the Italian mobile market. Fastweb is currently moving forward with its acquisition of Vodafone Italy, a deal that would significantly consolidate the market. Meanwhile, TIM has been undergoing a major corporate restructuring involving the sale of its fixed-line network. The outcome of the AGCM’s assessment will likely dictate the pace of 5G expansion in Italy and set a precedent for how rival operators can cooperate on critical infrastructure in the future.
