The acquisition of Vodafone Italia by Swisscom seems to be on track, despite the regulatory obstacles that remain to be overcome. The Italian communications regulatory authority (AGCOM) has just given the green light to our former monopolist, which seems to be buoyed by the success of its subsidiary Fastweb to the point of forgetting its past international setbacks…
This new step taken by Swisscom represents a significant advance in the process of obtaining the necessary authorisations to finalise the digestion of Vodafone Italia. AGCOM approved the transaction without reservation on 6 November 2024, after examining its potential impact on the competitive structure and pluralism of the Italian audiovisual media services market.
Regulatory challenges persist
From an overall perspective, Swisscom appears to have prepared its ground well, having notably obtained financing for the purchase price of 8 billion euros in May 2024. The Swiss operator has also received the approval of several key bodies, including the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Italy, the Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO) and the European Commission.
However, the path to the gargantuan deal is not yet completely clear. Two engineer database crucial regulatory approvals remain pending, including that of the Italian competition authority (AGCM), which opened an in-depth investigation on September 11, 2024, Swisscom said in its press release on Wednesday.
A renewed international ambition
This acquisition marks a turning point in Swisscom’s international strategy, which seems to have learned from its past failures abroad. The Swiss operator is betting big on the Italian market, where its subsidiary Fastweb seems to have proven itself, to establish its presence beyond its borders. A real money pump, as it whispered to journalists duringr ba leads the acquisition.Swisscom store
If everything goes as planned, Swisscom is counting on the transaction being completed in the first quarter of 2025. It remains to be seen whether this ambitious operation will enable the Swiss operator to establish itself sustainably on the European telecoms scene, or whether it will revive the ghosts of its past international setbacks.