Italian telecoms operators are close to signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the creation of a new company to build up high-speed broadband infrastructure, Industry Minister Paolo Romani said Wednesday.

"The memorandum will be signed in a few days, and will see the participation of all the operators," Romani said at a telecoms conference in the capital.

He added the new company will be responsible for building up basic fiber-optic infrastructure, but then will leave all the operators free to choose different solutions to offer their own broadband services.

The Italian government and the main telecoms operators have long debated the best way to expand access to high-speed broadband across the country, as Italy lags the rest of Europe in broadband penetration.

But questions over financing and former monopoly Telecom Italia SpA's (TI) refusal to share control over its key fixed-line network have delayed the country's broadband plans.

Romani Wednesday invited all the operators to "be brave and take risks," anticipating and encouraging the growth for high-speed broadband demand in the country.

-By Giada Zampano, Dow Jones Newswires; +39 06 69766925; giada.zampano@dowjones.com
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