Italian utility Edison enters retail broadband market

Energy group Edison EDNn.MI said on Monday it would add fiber broadband services to its retail offer as Italian utilities vie for customers.

A partial liberalisation of the domestic gas and power markets earlier this year has increased competition among Italian energy suppliers, prompting them to come up with new marketing offers.

Edison said its broadband services would be part of a broad offer for households, which includes electric vehicle charging and insurance in addition to the usual gas and power contracts.

Similar strategies have been adopted by other Italian energy groups, including the country’s biggest utility Enel ENEI.MI, and could increase price pressure in the country’s hyper-competitive telecoms market.

Edison, which has 2.8 million retail customers for its power and gas services in Italy, said it aims to sell its broadband service to 10% of its customer base by 2028.

Starting next month, Edison will offer existing customers the option to subscribe its broadband service at 19.90 euros per month, below the average monthly household spend of 28 euros.

“For those who are already Edison customers the monthly subscription fee is below the market average,” Edison Energia CEO Massimo Quaglini said at a press event in Milan.

Edison has secured wholesale connectivity capacity from full-fiber optic network operators Open Fiber and Fastweb SCMN.S, said Quaglini. Reuters