Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Ardian, Oak Holdings 1, INWIT, Fastweb, Telecom Italia, Bouygues Telecom, iBASIS, du, e& (Etisalat), among others.
Italian Tower Buyout Faces High Stakes Amid Customer Contract Dispute
Ardian and Oak Holdings 1 are preparing financing for a potential takeover of the remaining 29 percent of Italian mobile tower operator INWIT, valued at approximately $7 billion. INWIT’s share price has fallen around 30 percent over the past year, creating a potential acquisition opportunity. However, its two largest customers, Fastweb and Telecom Italia, which generated 88 percent of revenue in 2025, dispute the validity of contracts that INWIT says extend until 2038. The case is before Italian courts. A potential offer of €7.73 per share would cost approximately €2 billion, but contract renegotiations and additional debt could significantly weaken investment returns.
Bouygues Telecom and iBASIS Launch Strategic Roaming Partnership
Bouygues Telecom and iBASIS have signed a long-term strategic partnership covering international voice, IPX connectivity and wholesale roaming services. Under the agreement, iBASIS receives exclusive responsibility for Bouygues Telecom’s international wholesale voice and IPX services, while taking over roaming negotiations and operational management. The companies have also jointly launched Roaming Office to strengthen negotiating power and improve economies of scale for independent mobile operators. Bouygues Telecom becomes the first independent European mobile network operator to adopt a fully outsourced roaming model and the eighth Tier One operator to select iBASIS for international wholesale communications services. The partnership also supports the transition toward VoLTE roaming and 5G standalone services.
UAE Telecom Operators Accelerate 6G Preparations with New Network Services
UAE telecom operators du and e& (Etisalat) have introduced network enhancements to strengthen connectivity and prepare for future 6G services. du has commercially launched U6GHz connectivity on its 5G+ network, targeting higher capacity for consumers, businesses, cloud applications and connected industries. Etisalat has introduced wireless technology using 2×2 MIMO to deliver upload speeds up to three times faster on compatible smartphones through its 5.5G network. The developments build on the UAE regulator’s 2024 allocation plans for the 600MHz and 6GHz spectrum bands. Although these upgrades do not represent commercial 6G deployment, they establish technical foundations for next-generation connectivity, with widespread adoption expected around 2030.