Swisscom has announced a telecom tower initiative in Italy, as Fastweb + Vodafone and TIM enter into an agreement to develop and operate up to 6,000 new mobile towers.
The planned deployment of passive infrastructure is designed to accelerate nationwide 5G rollout while improving cost efficiency and operational alignment with European benchmarks.
Joint venture structure to drive efficiency
The project will be executed through a 50-50 joint venture between Fastweb + Vodafone and TIM. The structure is expected to evolve with the inclusion of third-party investors, enhancing capital efficiency and reducing financial burden on the core operators.
The new entity will focus on building and managing passive telecom infrastructure, including towers and related assets, while offering access to other telecom service providers. This open-access approach is expected to foster competition and optimize infrastructure utilization across the Italian telecom market.
Multi-year deployment and long-term agreements
Construction of the new sites will take place in phases over several years. As anchor tenants, Fastweb + Vodafone and TIM will enter into long-term service agreements with the joint venture, securing access to passive infrastructure services at market-based pricing.
The partners are also evaluating the potential to expand collaboration into additional infrastructure-related services, further strengthening the business case for shared network investments.
Supporting 5G expansion and investment sustainability
The initiative is expected to enhance the sustainability of telecom infrastructure economics in Italy by lowering costs and enabling operators to redirect capital toward advanced technologies such as 5G.
By improving efficiency and maintaining high infrastructure quality, the project aims to provide the flexibility required for evolving network demands, including future upgrades beyond 5G.
Financial structure and impact
Funding for the joint venture will come from a mix of equity contributions from external investors and debt financing. According to Swisscom, the venture will be accounted for using the equity method and will not impact the company’s free cash flow or financial guidance.
The project remains subject to customary regulatory approvals, but it signals a significant step toward collaborative infrastructure development in Europe’s telecom sector, supporting faster and more cost-effective 5G deployment.
SHAFANA FAZAL