Italy

Tiscali S.p.A. (Borsa Italiana, Milan: TIS) is one of the leading alternative telecommunications operators in Europe. With one of the broadest and most interconnected IP technology-based networks worldwide, Tiscali supplies a wide range of services to its customers, both private individuals and companies, namely: Internet access through dial-up and ADSL as well as voice, VoIP, media, added-value services and other technologically advanced products.

Conad is an Italian retail stores brand which operates one of the largest supermarket chain in Italy. As of 2005, Conad operates nearly 2,850 shops and employs almost 35,200 people.

Between 1999, the year it was established in Milan, FASTWEB invested over € 3,6 billion in a new-generation fiber network spanning more than 26,000 km. and covering 50% of the Italian population. Today, TLC operators all over the world are promising NGNs, the super-fast next-generation networks integrating voice, data, video and advanced services. At FASTWEB, the NGN is already a reality: by implementing the IP protocol on its alternative fiber network, FASTWEB provides a triple play offer of voice, data/Internet and video services, available simultaneously on a single connection, for residential and business clients.

In Italy, 3 was the first mobile operator to offer 3G services (UMTS), launched in March 2003. As of December 2007, 3 Italia had 8 million registered customers, thus being the local leader in the 3G telecommunications market. 3 Italy is the largest company in the 3-group measured in number of subscribers. It has a roaming agreement with TIM which allows its customers to get a 2G service when they move out of 3G coverage. On February 22, 2006, 3 announced the first launch of (HSDPA) technology in Italy, with initial coverage of Rome.

Wind or Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA was established in 1997 and is an Italian telecom operator which offers integrated fixed, mobile and Internet services.

Vodafone Italia is an Italian mobile telephony operator. The company has 29,151,000 customers, as of 30 September 2007 and a market share of 33.4%, placing it just behind TIM. Vodafone Italia is an owned subsidiary of Vodafone Group plc (76.86%) & Verizon (23.14%), and like other European operators, uses GSM technology; it is presently rolling out an UMTS network.

The TIM brand is no longer just Italian, being recognised in Europe, the Mediterranean basin and in South America. Infact TIM has become the major strength of the international presence of the Telecom Italia Group in the world with almost 54 million mobile phone lines of wich 26 million in Italy.