* Lawsuits pending with Swisscom unit, Vodafone
* Settlement would bypass lengthy court proceedings
* Telecom seen setting aside money to cover antitrust risks (Adds source, details)
By Danilo Masoni and Stefano Rebaudo
MILAN, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Telecom Italia isconsidering settling separate antitrust disputes with rivals tostop damage claims for around 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion),two sources close to the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
Mobile phone giant Vodafone sued the former Italianphone monopoly two years ago, alleging Telecom Italia had abusedits dominant position in its home market and is seeking over 1billion euros in damages.
Other telecoms firms have also sued Telecom Italia oncompetition grounds in recent years. Swisscom's Italian broadband unit Fastweb is seeking damages of 1.74billion euros, Internet firm Tiscali is seeking 285million, while small telecoms firms Eutelia, Voiceplus andTeleunit are demanding a combined sum of nearly 1.1 billion.
A third source with knowledge of the matter said a deal inat least one of those cases could be within reach.
A settlement, if reached, would allow the parties to bypasslengthy judicial proceedings.
Telecom Italia is expected to set aside at least 300 millioneuros to cover risks connected to the lawsuits when it approvesits results this week.
In 2013, Italy's competition authority fined Telecom Italiaabout 104 million euros for abusing its dominant market positionas owner and manager of the country's largest fixed-line phonenetwork. The fine was upheld by Italy's top court in May. ($1 = 0.9201 euros) (Reporting by Danilo Masoni and Stefano Rebaudo; Editing bySusan Fenton)
Vodafone (VOD)