It thundered so much that it rained. Given the stakes that the race to conquer Metroweb, the Milanese company controlled by Cassa depositi e prestiti which has the primacy in Europe of optical fiber, could unleash the storm it was understood for some time. L'offer made by Telecom Italia to take over F21's share in Metroweb, it broke the bank in Parliament, unleashing a barrage of questions, especially from representatives of the Democratic Party and the Northern League, who complain about the monopolistic risks of the initiative and demand immediate clarifications from the Antitrust, Consob and the Government.
"If the news were confirmed - thunders the senator of the Democratic Party, Stefano Esposito - of an offer by Telecom Italia for the acquisition of the majority of Metroweb with multiples higher than those of the market and without any tender procedure, we would be faced with a situation very serious and for this reason we expect the Antitrust and Consob to intervene in order to clarify and prevent competition in fixed telecommunications, already at serious risk, from being completely eliminated".
He is echoed by Cristina Bargero, also from the Democratic Party and a member of the Productive Activities commission of the Chamber, who speaks of a "dangerous concentration" following "an off-market operation, carried out in the absence of tender procedures" which demands immediate intervention of Consob and Antitrust. For the Democratic Party parliamentarian, the path to follow in telecommunications networks is different, namely that of "a system operation that does not jeopardize the market and rather stimulates growth, investment and competition". In other words – it is Bargero herself who claims it – she would like “a network company with contributions from all operators, Telecom included”.
The Northern League also rises on Telecom's offer for the majority of Metroweb with Jonny Crosio, group leader in the telecommunications commission in the Senate who "immediately demands clarity and information and proposes the rapid summoning to Palazzo Madama of Metroweb itself, of Telecom Italia, of the Antitrust, Consob and the Government. For Crosio, who like Bargero of the Democratic Party suggests an alternative system operation shared by all, Telecom's blitz on Metroweb, "if confirmed, would be a blow to the competition".
If these are the premises, the Metroweb operation is about to become a national case, above all if one considers that Telecom Italia's main competitor is an international group such as Vodafone which could hardly accept a setback without drawing the consequences.
