Swisscom has received regulatory approval to acquire Vodafone Italia, marking a major step towards establishing a converged telecom operator in Italy. The deal was approved by the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) on December 20, 2024, and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) on December 19, 2024.
Also Read: Swisscom Expands Data Centre Capacity in Western Switzerland with Bonvillars Acquisition
Commitments by Swisscom
The AGCM's approval is contingent upon behavioural commitments proposed by Swisscom. These include the continued provision of wholesale services to interested operators, in line with Fastweb's current practice, and the sharing of information in any public tender for fixed telephony and fixed connectivity services issued by the public administration, where Fastweb or Vodafone Italia is the current supplier. These commitments, which will be monitored by an independent trustee, will remain in effect for three years, Swisscom said.
Approval from MIMIT
MIMIT approved the transaction by clearing the change of control over Vodafone Italia as the holder of spectrum licenses. The MIMIT clearance, which included spectrum license transfers, followed favourable opinions from the Italian Authority for Communications and the Italian Competition Authority.
Also Read: Italy’s AGCM Opens In-Depth Investigation into Swisscom’s Acquisition of Vodafone Italia
The merger will combine Fastweb's and Vodafone Italia's fixed and mobile networks, aiming to deliver enhanced services to Italian consumers and businesses. The transaction is expected to close by Q1 2025, Swisscom said in a statement on December 20.