Open Fiber, jointly owned by utility Enel and state lender CDP, is spending billions of euros to build an ultrafast fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network for consumers and businesses, including in remote areas of the country.

The government would like Telecom Italia to join forces with Open Fiber to avoid duplicating investments and roll out a future-proof full fibre network but the two companies have failed to strike a deal to combine their assets.

Enel added in the statement it is committed to build a national broadband network and looks favourably on any move, even innovative, to speed up such a move.

(Reporting by Steven Jewkes, writing by Francesca Piscioneri, editing by Giulia Segreti)