The deal comes after TIM selected KKR as an "exclusive partner" to help it roll out fibre-optic networks throughout Italy after talks with the owners of Open Fiber – utility giant Enel and state lender CDP – stalled earlier this year due to regulatory, funding and business issues. In March, TIM CEO Luigi Gubitosi said FiberCop will manage TIM's entire copper network and will also act as a wholesale operator offering access to passive copper and fibre networks.
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that the government would be in favour of CDP taking a stake in TIM’s last-mile networks to balance KKR’s presence in an infrastructure considered strategically important. The government is also reportedly considering a plan to set up a single high-speed fixed broadband network that would initially be majority-owned by TIM but would grant equal access to all operators.
