Several reports indicate that a long-anticipated change in the shareholder structure of Telecom Italia will finally go ahead this week. It will see Pirelli & C Spa sell its 18% stake in the company to Spain’s Telefonica and several Italian banks. Much still depends on the deal being given the green light by the Brazilian regulator Anatel, which is considering complaints from Claro, the country’s third largest mobile operator. Vivo and TIM Brasil, the number one and two operators, are already owned by Telefonica and Telecom Italia respectively. The proposed deal is also arousing concerns in neighbouring Argentina, where both Telecom Italia and Telefonica also have interests in the mobile sector.
