The agreement between Tim and Open Fiber is a "sensible" operation but the spin-off of the network from Tim is no longer needed and "it is no longer topical because today the Open Fiber project involves the entire network and not just the last mile". To support it is Franco Bernabe, former president and twice CEO of Telecom Italia, in an all-out interview at Only 24 Hours.
“A Telecom without a network – explains Bernabè – would become a mere reseller of services with an unsustainable cost base”. How to avoid then risk of a fratricidal war and unnecessarily expensive between Tim's network infrastructure and that of Open Fiber? “The most practical solution – according to the former number one of Telecom Italia – would be the purchase of Open Fiber or its contribution to Telecom with an assessment that recognizes the costs incurred up to now and the actual value of the contracts acquired. Once this is done – adds Bernabè – Telecom should guarantee a total impartiality of the network. However, I don't think it will be easy for shareholders to agree on values".
So how do you get out of the puzzle? “If there is no intention to sell or transfer Open Fiber to Telecom, with the possibility for CDP to increase the stake in Telecom in this way, a simpler solution would be a collaboration between the two networks through agreements that allow Telecom to use the fiber access network according to the evolution of demand and this would have the advantage for Telecom of reducing the need for investments and for Open Fiber to increase its revenues”.
In short, there are solutions for the future of the web, but to follow them we need to overcome the too many prejudices that have polluted public debate so far.
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