Two amendments recently approved by the Senate Committee will radically change the landscape of telephone offers in Italy. The so-called “operator attacks”, or super discounted offers reserved exclusively for customers from certain operators, will be prohibited by law.
These amendments, proposed by the majority, are part of the Competition Bill and aim to put an end to a practice that has been used over the years by telephone companies such as Tim, Wind Tre and Vodafone. These offers allowed for very convenient rates, from 5 to 8 euros per month, and large amounts of GB to use. However, these offers were often "hidden" and reserved for a limited number of users.
The decision to ban “operator attacks” has raised some controversy regarding the possible negative effects on the telecommunications market. Some experts argue that these offers, although discriminated against, have had a positive effect on competition, pushing operators to improve their offers and provide higher quality services, in order not to lose their customers.
Despite these concerns, the two amendments received the support of the majority of those present in the Senate Committee. The bill must now also be approved by the Chamber of Deputies to become final law.
The ban on these offers could lead to a change in strategy by operators, who could focus on more competitive offers aimed at a wider audience. In addition, customers will have greater transparency and will be able to evaluate offers more fairly, without having to deal with "hidden" rates.
In conclusion, the end of “operator attacks” represents a turning point in the telecommunications market in Italy. Further evaluations will be needed to understand whether this decision will have a positive or negative impact on the sector, but there is no doubt that it will lead to significant changes in the strategies of operators and in the way in which customers approach the choice of their telephone tariff.
Article published on November 2, 2023 - 17:26
