ROME-Three consortia have submitted bids for Italy’s third mobile phone license, due to be awarded mid-year.
Two of the bids were expected for some time. Picienne-a consortium led by the Italian TV broadcasting company Mediaset and British Telecommunications plc-and Wind-comprised of Italian electric utility company Enel, Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom-have both made their intentions known in the years leading up to the tender offer.
The third consortium is a strategic alliance between Bell Canada International Inc., with a 27-percent interest; Hong Kong-based Distacom International Ltd. with a 22-percent share; and the Italian highway company called Autostrade spa, with a 27-percent share. Several other Italian companies are included in the consortium that, together with Autostrade, command 51 percent of the consortium.
