Telecom Italia considering wholesale unit spinoff - report

(Telecompaper) Telecom Italia may carry out a reorganisation of the unit that leases its landline network to rivals to avoid antitrust damages of up to EUR 4 billion, according to unnamed sources cited by Bloomberg. The plan would involve folding the OpenAccess unit that guarantees equality of access to rival operators, into Telecom Italia's wholesale business. The measure is modelled on what the BT Group has done in the UK with its network arm Openreach, said the sources. Telecom Italia's board