TIM signs fibre deal with utility group

Telecom Italia (TIM) has forged an agreement with utility firm A2A to deploy fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure in Milan. A report from Il Sole 24 Ore says that the deal will initially cover areas of the city where TIM does not have access to fibre via its existing agreement with wholesale network operator Metroweb. The telco and utility group are expected to unveil partnerships in other cities where A2A is active, including Bergamo and Brescia. As reported by CommsUpdate in July, TIM has formed a joint venture with ISP Fastweb to deploy fibre networks under the name Flash Fiber. The pair are facing competition from another utility group, Enel, which has created its own broadband networks unit, Enel Open Fiber (EOF), which is to be merged with Metroweb.