Telecom Italia (TIM) received a €1 billion payment from the Italian state, refunding a charge from the late 90s the operator has been battling through the courts for years to get back.
The operator paid just over €500 million in a licence fee in 1998 and has been contesting that payment for over 20 years. The final sum awarded to the operator comprises the original amount with inflation and interest added.
In December 2025, the country’s Court of Cassation finally ended a long-running legal row, ratifying a decision made in 2024 to award the sum.
Telecom Italia noted the payment had been flagged in its accounts last year and will “have a net positive impact on the financial position for the current financial year”.
The payment draws a line under what has been a lengthy battle for the operator to get a refund on a fee paid in the wake of the Italian telecoms market being opened-up.
In a statement made in 2024 on the issue, TIM argued courts in Europe had “intervened on this issue on several occasions” with a court in Rome eventually ruling in its favour.
The post Telecom Italia banks €1B refund on 1998 licence fee appeared first on Mobile World Live.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) teamed with federal, state and local agencies to ensure secure communications across host cities as the FIFA World Cup 2026 football tournament kicked off.
FCC chair Brendan Carr welcomed the start of matches yesterday (11 June), stating the commission’s public safety, enforcement and radio engineering experts collaborated with the White House Task Force, private sector communications providers and stadium operators to support robust networks throughout the tournament.
“This event will be an incredible showcase of America’s strength and spirit as we celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday,” Carr said, also thanking Task Force Executive Director Andrew Giuliani and the FCC’s own staff for their work on the effort.
On the public safety front, the FCC has been preparing for rapid interference detection and response during matches, helping ensure first responders and emergency communications systems operate without disruption.
The commission has also been working with federal, state and local partners to support lawful counter-drone operations under the Safer Skie Act and has issued 10 Special Temporary Authorizations for wireless devices and broadcast operations to aid global media coverage.
Wireless interference has been a central focus given the extraordinary demand placed on networks when large crowds converge in concentrated areas.
The FCC collaborated with industry partners to support high-capacity wireless and 5G connectivity in and around host venues, ensuring reliable operations for broadcasters, wireless carriers and media organisations.
To monitor the radio spectrum in real time, the FCC deployed a networked constellation of advanced spectrum sensors across all US venues, to enable remote monitoring and rapid identification of harmful interference.
The FCC is ensuring spectrum requirements for broadcast operations, public safety communications, event security and national security preparations are fully supported at the tournament locations.
It also conducted advance planning, testing and coordination activities with host cities ahead of the tournament.
The FCC noted these efforts lay the groundwork beyond the World Cup itself, strengthening national communications coordination frameworks in preparation for the 2028 Olympics and other future major events.
The post FCC bolsters networks for FIFA World Cup 2026 appeared first on Mobile World Live.
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