Vodafone, BT in Italian MVNO deal

The Italian subsidiaries of two UK-owned companies, BT and Vodafone, have signed a mobile resale deal. Vodafone Italy is the country’s second largest cellular operator, while BT Italia currently offers wireline services to corporate customers. The wholesale deal will allow BT to set up as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and add cellular services to its portfolio. BT says it expects to launch its first wireless services by the end of this year and it is aiming to have won 10% of the Italian business mobile user market within five years.