The board of Telecom Italia (TI) is to restart talks with the main shareholders of local fibre operator Metroweb, about collaborating on a nationwide network rollout.

The statement follows a letter sent to TI by Metroweb’s top two shareholders  – infrastructure fund F2i and state holding Cassa Depositi e Prestiti’s investment arm FSI – which set no limits to the potential stake that TI could be offered in the fibre operator.

Metroweb is the Italian government’s vehicle for rolling out a nationwide fibre network, which is why it is a sough-after partner for both TI and its rivals. Vodafone and Wind are likely to fight any TI-Metroweb deal, claiming it is anti-competitive.

The Italian incumbent talked to Metroweb before but talks stalled. Likewise, Vodafone and Wind have jointly attempted to strike a deal with the fibre operator.

The government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has pledged around €7 billion to invest in the national project of building a fibre network, with the rest coming from the private sector.

TI said it is in talks with Metroweb’s shareholders “regarding the advisability of sharing a plan to invest in FTTH networks”. TI already has its own plan for deploying a fibre-based network, although it is unclear if the incumbent’s rollout strategy fits with that of Metroweb and the Italian government.

“The Board then decided to analyse in greater depth the studies testing the economic sustainability of any collaboration between the two companies aimed at exploring the feasibility of a further acceleration of the Telecom Italia plan, starting contacts with the counterparties and with the competent Authorities,” the statement added.