Sistema is preparing to buy into Telecom Italia. According to reports in both Russia’s Kommersant and the Italian agency Mergermarket, the Russian company will shortly enter talks with the Pirelli Group, which through its 80% stake in the Olimpia finance company holds an 18% stake in Telecom Italia. A deal between the two parties, which could see Sistema secure 14.4% in Telecom Italia for at least $8.6 billion (€6.64 billion), may be signed as soon as this March, when President Putin pays an official visit to Italy. Separately, Russia’s Ministry of IT and Communications is considering what has been described as a cut-price plan for digitalisation. Prepared by the Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS), it will cost R159.6 billion (€4.65 billion) up to 2015. Moscow CableCom has meanwhile announced that the homes passed figure for its broadband network in the Russian capital stood at 782,249 at the end of 2006, or 3.4% more than three months earlier. Its pay-TV subscriber total was up by 11.8% to 63,310, while the number of Internet subscribers rose by 8.7% to 98,106. (CD)
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