Reuters reported that Italy’s Ministry of Communications approved the auction process for a
fourth cellular license there, scheduled to get underway in June or July.
Next, the details of the auction process will
be published and advisers chosen. Expected to bid on the license is a consortium being formed by British
Telecommunications plc with Italian companies, including road construction company Autostrade, media group
Mediaset, energy company ENI, clothing manufacturer Benetton and Hong Kong-based Distacom. The consortium is
called Blue.
