Protto: 'Cellnex ready to support network consolidation in Italy'

How? .

Acting as an enabler. In the event of a spin-off of the access network, we could play a role that is basically our own: that of making the infrastructure available to the operators, while also taking on the necessary investments.

And perhaps acquiring the asset from the telcos.

Why not? That is what happened, with all due proportion, at the time when the telephone companies sold their passive infrastructures to the tower companies. Infrastructures that are therefore already shared by the operators. It is only a question of re-proposing, by bringing it up to date, that model. Moreover, operations like that of Zefiro, the joint venture between Wind Tre and Iliad, go precisely in the direction of sharing the effort on networks. I believe that this issue will be topical for some time to come. When we get closer, we will better understand if and how a similar model can be developed, with a convenience that should be the telcos', but also ours.

In the meantime, what development plans does Cellnex have in Italy?

In the Italian market in our sector, we and another big player (Inwit, ed.) operate. It is impossible to think of any corporate consolidation. As far as we are concerned, we are very committed at this stage to the 'real estate' plan, through the company, which operates at group level, called Celland. I am talking about the purchase of the land that houses our antennas.

Where are you at?

At the moment in Italy the percentage of land we own on which we have our pylons is 25 per cent. The goal is to rise above 50% in five years. The numbers cannot go much further for a very simple reason.

Which one?

Half of our 22,000 sites are roof spaces, buildings and some of the land is subject to state restrictions. However, Italy certainly carries a lot of weight in this project for the group. By 2024 about half of the more than 200 million made available by the group for this project has been invested in Italy, and the same is planned for the following years.

In Italy, there is much talk of a possible marriage between Rai Way and EI Towers. Wouldn't you possibly have an interest in entering this business? .

We are present in television broadcasting in other countries. But it is a different business. In Italy it is not in line with our development strategy.