Infrastructure pressure in Europe reshapes telecom strategies in CIS markets

Developments surrounding Telecom Italia and tower company INWIT are becoming a clear indicator of a global trend that is already influencing telecom markets in the CIS region. Operators are increasingly revisiting their infrastructure strategies and seeking to regain control over critical assets.

At the center of the issue is Telecom Italia’s potential early exit from a long-term contract with INWIT, alongside Fastweb’s parallel efforts to develop its own tower infrastructure. These moves reflect operator dissatisfaction with lease costs and rising infrastructure expenses.

For CIS countries, this trend is particularly relevant. Many regional operators have relied on tower-sharing models as a way to optimize costs, but the current situation highlights the risks of dependence on third-party infrastructure providers.

Amid rising investments in 5G and future networks, operators are increasingly moving toward vertical integration — taking control over base stations, data centers, and transmission networks. This shift may lead to a reassessment of investment strategies across Central Asia.

As a result, the European case is becoming a reference point for regional players and is likely to influence the long-term structure of telecom markets in the CIS.