MILAN, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Italian arm of mobile phonegroup Vodafone believes that so-called other licensedoperators (OLO) should be allowed to take a stake in Metroweb ifinfrastructure fund F2i sells its controlling holding in theItalian fiber optic network firm, Vodafone said in a letter toItaly's competition watchdog AGCM.
Vodafone, which along with former Italian phone monopolyTelecom Italia has expressed an interest in buyingMetroweb, also asked that all Metroweb shareholders be allowedto appoint board members, saying this would be the only way toensure independence of the network.
In the Nov. 27 letter seen by Reuters, Vodafone said a saleof Metroweb to Telecom Italia would damage competition.
Besides Vodafone, other OLOs in Italy are broadband operatorFastweb, a unit of Swisscom, and mobile carrier Wind,which is controlled by Russia's Vimpelcom.
On Nov. 25, AGCM said Telecom Italia's planned acquisitionof Metroweb would be possible under very stringent conditions. (Reporting by Stefano Rebaudo; writing by Danilo Masoni;editing by Agnieszka Flak)