Inwit, Italy’s largest tower company with more than 25,000 telecom towers, is seeing an exodus of Italian mobile operators.
In sum – what to know:
Dual exit plans – Fastweb + Vodafone has formally triggered MSA termination by 2028, while TIM is also considering an early exit from its Inwit agreement.
Cost dispute central – Moves are driven by concerns over above-market tower pricing and limited progress in renegotiations with Inwit.
Infra strategy shift – Both operators are pivoting toward shared and new infrastructure, including a joint venture to build thousands of towers across Italy.
Italian carriers Telecom Italia (TIM) and Swisscom-owned Fastweb + Vodafone are considering an early termination of their long‑term contract with Italian telecoms tower operator Inwit.
Swisscom-owned Fastweb + Vodafone has formally initiated the process to terminate its master service agreement (MSA) with Inwit, while TIM’s directors are expected to discuss the matter at a board meeting over the coming weekend, according to press reports.
According to a Swisscom, Fastweb + Vodafone has provided notice of termination “in full compliance with the contractual provisions,” with the agreement set to expire at the end of March 2028 in line with the required notice period. Until then, Fastweb + Vodafone plans to work with Inwit to manage a structured transition.
Inwit is Italy’s largest tower company. The firm currently operates more than 25,000 telecom towers across the country. Press reports said that the contracts with Fastweb + Vodafone and TIM currently represent 85% of Inwit’s overall revenues.
Fastweb + Vodafone, which operates under this brand following the merger of Italian telcos Fastweb and Vodafone Italia, said it will begin discussions to establish a migration plan spanning several years, aimed at maintaining service stability. This plan will involve cooperation with third-party passive infrastructure providers as well as initiatives in which Fastweb + Vodafone will directly participate, ensuring “operational continuity until and after March 2028.”
The decision to exit the agreement reflects ongoing disagreements over pricing. Swisscom stated that “Inwit’s above-market prices reduces Fastweb + Vodafone’s ability to make the investments necessary to maintain high-quality mobile networks and support Italy’s digitalisation.” It also pointed to Inwit’s unwillingness to enter formal negotiations to revise pricing in line with market conditions.
“The termination of the agreements with Inwit will allow Fastweb + Vodafone to progressively redirect financial resources toward the development of new infrastructure, improve network quality and coverage, accelerate 5G roll-out, and leverage its level of investments of currently EUR 1.5 billion ($1.73 million) per year,” Swisscom said.
In a separate statement, Inwit said it has received the notice of termination of the MSA from Fastweb, adding that the action is unlawful and lacks industrial rationale. Inwit also said that the contract with Fastweb + Vodafone remains valid and effective until 2038.
“Inwit specifies that such an act is devoid of any legal basis and, as such, will be challenged in all appropriate venues. The company will immediately file for injunctive relief before the Court of Milan to block the effects of the termination notice,” the tower company said.
The termination also comes amid broader strategic developments in Italy’s telecom infrastructure sector. Last week, Fastweb + Vodafone and TIM have signed a non-binding agreement to develop and manage new mobile tower infrastructure in Italy, with plans to build up to 6,000 sites. The initiative is aimed at supporting nationwide 5G deployment while improving infrastructure efficiency.
The project is expected to be executed through a jointly owned entity between TIM and Fastweb + Vodafone. The companies noted that they may later consider bringing in third-party investors to strengthen the venture’s financial structure. The towers will operate under an open-access model, allowing other telecom operators to use the infrastructure.
In January, Fastweb + Vodafone had announced a preliminary agreement with TIM to cooperate on the development of mobile access networks in Italy using a radio access network (RAN) sharing model. The initiative is designed to speed up the rollout of 5G services nationwide.
The agreement, which is subject to a final contract expected by the second quarter of 2026, aims to make more efficient use of existing infrastructure in the country while expanding coverage, particularly in less densely populated areas. The project will require approval from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM), and the Italian Communications Authority (AGCom).
Under the proposed model, Fastweb+Vodafone will focus on extending 5G coverage to municipalities with fewer than 35,000 residents. Each operator will be responsible for network development across 10 regions. By the end of 2028, the partnership is expected to result in around 15,500 mobile sites per operator, the partners said.
