Italy’s newest mobile operator, Iliad, has asked courts to prohibit a 5G network-sharing agreement between Wind Tre and Fastweb, according to a report from Reuters.
The first hearing is to be held on 12 February to decide whether Iliad should be given access to the agreement deed. A ruling is expected by 7 October.
Wind Tre and Fastweb announced their ten-year 5G network sharing deal in June last year, saying it would ‘lead to the rapid deployment of a shared 5G radio access and backhauling network in Italy’.
Macro and micro cells
The nationwide network will include Wind Tre and Fastweb macro and small cells, connected through dark fibre from Fastweb, with a targeted coverage of 90% of the population by 2026.
Wind Tre will manage the 5G network, while both operators will offer commercial services independently over the shared infrastructure.
With Telecom Italia (TIM) and Vodafone have a similar agreement, leaving Iliad alone without a 5G network sharing partnership, although TIM and Vodafone have expressed a willingness to extend their agreement to Iliad.