The companies will use infrastructure hived off from two existing Italian mobile operators – CK Hutchison’s Three and VimpelCom’s Wind – which are trying to merge, says a report in the Financial Times.
It has already been reported that the two companies are prepared to sell assets, as part of a deal to win approval for their merger from European and Italian competition authorities.
Reports say that 8,000 cell towers are in negotiation with an initial 5,400 under consideration, as well as 35MHz of spectrum.
The FT cites “a person briefed on the plans” but does not name its source.
Denis O’Brien’s Caribbean and Pacific operation, Digicel, has also been named in reports as being interested in taking part in a new Italian operator.
