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Italy's top court delays decision over Telecom Italia's 1 billion euro licence fee refund, say sources

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 27, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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Italy's top court delays decision over Telecom Italia's 1 billion euro licence fee refund, say sources
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MILAN (Reuters) -Italy's Supreme Court said on Tuesday more checks were needed to assess whether Telecom Italia had properly filed a claim to get back a 1 billion euro ($1.14 billion) payment from the

Italy's Supreme Court Postpones Ruling on Telecom Italia's €1 Billion Refund

MILAN (Reuters) -Italy's Supreme Court said on Tuesday more checks were needed to assess whether Telecom Italia had properly filed a claim to get back a 1 billion euro ($1.14 billion) payment from the Italian state in a dispute over licence fees, sources told Reuters.

At a hearing, the Supreme Court told parties it needed to assess whether TIM's initial claim was filed with the correct court and gave parties one month to file their arguments over the matter, sources said.

Telecom Italia declined to comment.

A Rome appeals court last year ordered the Italian government to return TIM the original licence fee of just over 500 million euros, plus a revaluation and accrued interest for a total of about 1 billion euros.

But the government filed an appeal against that decision with the Supreme Court, which typically takes 3-4 months before deciding on a case.

TIM and Rome have been locked in a legal dispute over license fees TIM was required to pay to the state in 1998, the year after the telecoms sector was deregulated.

($1 = 0.8800 euros)

(Reporting by Paolo Chiriatti, writing by Elvira Pollina, editing by Susan Fenton)

Key Takeaways

  • Italy's Supreme Court postpones Telecom Italia's refund ruling.
  • Further checks needed on the €1 billion claim.
  • Rome appeals court previously favored Telecom Italia.
  • Legal dispute dates back to 1998 deregulation.
  • Decision expected in 3-4 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Italy's Supreme Court decide regarding Telecom Italia's claim?
The Supreme Court stated that more checks were needed to determine if Telecom Italia properly filed its claim for a €1 billion refund.
What was the original amount ordered to be refunded to Telecom Italia?
A Rome appeals court ordered the Italian government to return just over €500 million, plus revaluation and accrued interest, totaling about €1 billion.
How long does the Supreme Court typically take to decide on a case?
The Supreme Court typically takes 3-4 months before reaching a decision on a case.
What year did the legal dispute over license fees begin?
The dispute over license fees began in 1998, the year after the telecoms sector was deregulated in Italy.
Did Telecom Italia provide any comments on the court proceedings?
Telecom Italia declined to comment on the ongoing court proceedings.

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