TI puts network spin-off on hold

Telecom Italia (TI) has confirmed that it has put its plan to spin off its fixed line copper network on hold, following regulator Autorita per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni’s (Agcom’s) proposal to cut the rates that competitors have to pay to access its infrastructure. TI says that the watchdog’s decision to cut access prices for its copper network has created ‘uncertainties’. A brief statement from the company read: ‘While reiterating the importance of the plan for both Telecom Italia and the development of the country’s telecoms system, the board acknowledged that the uncertainties introduced by recent decisions taken by Agcom might affect its feasibility. It therefore resolved that, before proceeding with further stages of implementation of this plan, the consistency of its content and the regulatory path with the underlying assumptions of the plan must be verified’. The spin-off plan was approved by TI’s board on 30 May 2013.