WINDTRE
Corporate brand
UnclaimedWINDTRE is an Italian telecommunications company providing mobile, fixed-line, broadband and related digital connectivity services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
Overview
WINDTRE is the telecommunications company created through the combination of Wind Telecomunicazioni and 3 Italy. The merger project was completed on 31 December 2016 as an equal joint venture between CK Hutchison Holdings, which controlled 3 Italy, and VimpelCom, the parent of Wind Telecomunicazioni. The resulting company combined two established Italian communications businesses and became one of the country's principal mobile and fixed-line operators. The company initially operated as a group with several consumer and business-facing brands. Wind and 3 Italy remained visible in the market after the corporate merger, while Infostrada continued to identify fixed-line and broadband services. The business brands Wind Business and 3 Business were consolidated under the Wind Tre Business name in May 2017. This transitional structure allowed the company to preserve customer recognition for the legacy brands while integrating the merged operations. A major ownership change occurred in September 2018. Following European Commission approval, VEON, formerly known as VimpelCom, sold its 50 percent interest to CK Hutchison Holdings. CK Hutchison consequently became Wind Tre's sole shareholder. The change simplified the company's ownership structure and left Wind Tre within CK Hutchison's international telecommunications portfolio. Wind Tre began a broad commercial rebranding process on 16 March 2020. The unified WINDTRE brand replaced the separate Wind and 3 Italy consumer identities, while WINDTRE Business became the principal business-market identity. The group also developed Very Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator launched in February 2020. Very Mobile was positioned as a value-oriented digital mobile offering and competed with other low-cost Italian operators, including Iliad, ho. and Kena Mobile. It was notable for introducing eSIM support and experimenting with services such as voice over LTE and voice over Wi-Fi. The company operates across mobile communications, fixed telephony, broadband connectivity and business telecommunications. Its network activities include 4G and 5G mobile services, while its fixed-line operations serve households and organizations with broadband access. In rural areas, Wind Tre has also pursued network-sharing arrangements. In 2022, Italy's communications regulator AGCOM authorized collaboration between Wind Tre and Iliad for 5G sharing in sparsely populated areas. This cooperation led to the creation of Zefiro Net, a jointly controlled network company whose formation was completed in January 2023. Wind Tre also expanded its fixed-connectivity position through an agreement signed in February 2024 to acquire the assets and network infrastructure of OpNet, formerly Linkem. The transaction excluded Tessellis, formerly Tiscali, and was completed on 1 August 2024. Through its WINDTRE, WINDTRE Business and Very Mobile brands, the group remains focused on Italian consumer, enterprise and wholesale connectivity markets.
History
Wind Tre emerged from the consolidation of two major Italian telecommunications businesses. CK Hutchison Holdings owned 3 Italy, while VimpelCom owned Wind Telecomunicazioni. Their plan was structured as an equal joint venture and was completed on 31 December 2016, creating Wind Tre as a combined mobile and fixed-line communications company. The corporate merger did not immediately eliminate the companies' customer-facing identities. Wind and 3 Italy continued to operate as recognizable consumer brands, and Infostrada remained associated with fixed-line and broadband services. The business operations formerly marketed as Wind Business and 3 Business were brought together under the Wind Tre Business identity on 23 May 2017. This period was characterized by the gradual integration of the two operating companies while maintaining continuity for existing customers. The ownership structure changed in 2018. After receiving European Commission approval, VEON, the successor to VimpelCom, sold its remaining 50 percent holding in Wind Tre to CK Hutchison Holdings on 7 September. CK Hutchison thereby became the sole shareholder. Wind Tre remained an Italian operating company, but its ownership was placed fully within CK Hutchison's global telecommunications group. The next major stage was brand consolidation. On 16 March 2020, Wind Tre began a rebranding process that unified the principal consumer presence under WINDTRE. The separate Wind and 3 Italy brands were progressively replaced by the combined identity, and the business proposition was organized under WINDTRE Business. A separate value brand, Very Mobile, had launched on 24 February 2020 as a mobile virtual network operator. It was designed to compete in Italy's lower-cost mobile segment and supported newer service formats, including eSIM, with experimentation involving VoLTE and VoWiFi. Wind Tre's development has involved both mobile and fixed connectivity. The company provides mobile voice and data services, including modern mobile broadband, as well as fixed-line telephony and broadband access. It also participates in infrastructure cooperation intended to improve the economics and reach of next-generation networks. In August 2022, AGCOM authorized a Wind Tre–Iliad collaboration for 5G sharing in rural areas with relatively low population density. The two companies subsequently completed the creation of Zefiro Net in January 2023 as a jointly controlled network-sharing venture. In 2024, Wind Tre pursued further expansion in fixed and wireless infrastructure. It signed an agreement on 2 February to acquire OpNet, formerly Linkem, together with its network assets and infrastructure and included subsidiaries, while excluding Tessellis, formerly Tiscali. The transaction was completed on 1 August 2024. The deal broadened Wind Tre's infrastructure position beyond its legacy mobile and fixed-line operations. As of the source material's 2022 market description, Wind Tre was identified as Italy's leading operator by human SIM cards and ranked third when measured by total active cards, behind TIM and Vodafone. Its current brand architecture combines the mainstream WINDTRE offer, WINDTRE Business for organizations and Very Mobile for value-focused mobile customers.
- 2024
OpNet acquisition closes
[1]Wind Tre completes its acquisition of OpNet and included network assets on 1 August.
- 2023
Zefiro Net is formed
[1]Wind Tre and Iliad complete the formation of their jointly controlled network-sharing company.
- 2020
Unified WINDTRE brand launches
[1]Wind Tre begins replacing its legacy consumer brands with the unified WINDTRE identity.
- 2020
Very Mobile launches
[1]Very Mobile begins operating as a mobile virtual network operator on 24 February.
- 2018
CK Hutchison takes full ownership
[1]VEON sells its 50 percent stake to CK Hutchison Holdings on 7 September.
- 2017
Business brands are consolidated
[1]Wind Business and 3 Business are replaced by Wind Tre Business on 23 May.
- 2016
Wind Tre is established
[1]The equal joint venture between 3 Italy and Wind Telecomunicazioni is completed on 31 December.
Products and positioning
A broad Italian connectivity provider serving consumers, businesses and wholesale partners through integrated mobile, fixed-line and broadband services, alongside the value-focused Very Mobile brand.
Mobile telecommunications · 2020
WINDTRE mobile services
The core consumer mobile business provides cellular voice, messaging and mobile-data connectivity in Italy. It developed from the legacy Wind and 3 Italy operations and became the principal consumer identity during the 2020 brand unification. The offer includes access to successive generations of mobile networks, including 4G and 5G services where available.
Fixed-line and broadband
WINDTRE fixed connectivity
WINDTRE's fixed business covers home telephony and broadband internet access. It incorporates capabilities associated with the former Wind and Infostrada operations and forms part of the company's integrated connectivity proposition for households. The business has been complemented by additional network and infrastructure assets obtained through the OpNet transaction.
Business telecommunications · 2017
WINDTRE Business
WINDTRE Business serves organizations with business mobile, fixed-line and connectivity services. It was introduced as the consolidated successor to Wind Business and 3 Business in 2017 and became the unified enterprise-facing brand during the wider 2020 rebranding.
Mobile virtual network operator · 2020
Very Mobile
Very Mobile is Wind Tre's value-oriented mobile virtual network brand. It launched in February 2020 to compete in Italy's lower-price mobile segment. The service has supported eSIM and has been associated with experimentation involving VoLTE and VoWiFi, giving the brand a more digital and simplified proposition than the main WINDTRE identity.
Shared network infrastructure · 2023
Zefiro Net
Zefiro Net is a jointly controlled network company established by Wind Tre and Iliad. It supports cooperation in mobile network deployment and sharing, particularly in rural Italian areas with lower population density. Its creation followed regulatory authorization for rural 5G collaboration.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020WINDTRE brand unification
Italy
Wind Tre began a broad rebranding effort to replace the separate Wind and 3 Italy consumer identities with the unified WINDTRE brand and to organize its business proposition under WINDTRE Business.
Outcome. The company moved from a portfolio of legacy brands toward a single principal consumer identity, while retaining Very Mobile as a separate value-oriented brand.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquire OpNet infrastructure and subsidiariesM&ABackground
Wind Tre sought to expand its infrastructure position through the assets of OpNet, formerly known as Linkem.
Action taken
Wind Tre signed an acquisition agreement on 2 February 2024 and completed the transaction on 1 August. Tessellis, formerly Tiscali, was excluded from the transaction.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Wind Tre's ownership of fixed and wireless network infrastructure in Italy.
2022
Pursue rural 5G network sharing with IliadStrategyBackground
Lower population density in rural areas created incentives for operators to share next-generation network infrastructure.
Action taken
Following AGCOM authorization, Wind Tre collaborated with Iliad on rural 5G sharing.
Aftermath
The cooperation resulted in the jointly controlled Zefiro Net venture, completed in January 2023.
2020
Adopt a unified consumer brandStrategyBackground
The company had continued operating Wind, 3 Italy and Infostrada identities after the legal merger.
Action taken
Wind Tre began the WINDTRE rebranding process and consolidated its business identity as WINDTRE Business.
Aftermath
The company presented a more unified market identity while maintaining Very Mobile as a distinct value brand.
2018
Acquire VEON's remaining Wind Tre stakeM&ABackground
Wind Tre had been jointly owned by CK Hutchison Holdings and VEON following the 2016 merger.
Action taken
After European Commission approval, CK Hutchison acquired VEON's 50 percent interest on 7 September 2018.
Aftermath
CK Hutchison became Wind Tre's sole shareholder.
2016
Create an equal joint venture from Wind and 3 ItalyM&ABackground
CK Hutchison and VimpelCom sought to combine their Italian telecommunications businesses into a single operating company.
Action taken
The merger of 3 Italy and Wind Telecomunicazioni was completed on 31 December 2016, forming Wind Tre.
Aftermath
The new company combined mobile and fixed-line operations while initially retaining several legacy commercial brands.
Recent events
- 2024
Wind Tre agrees to acquire OpNet assets[1]
M&A
Wind Tre signed an agreement to acquire OpNet, formerly Linkem, including network infrastructure and subsidiaries other than Tessellis.
- 2024
OpNet transaction is completed[1]
M&A
The acquisition of OpNet and its included subsidiaries was completed on 1 August 2024.
- 2023
Zefiro Net joint venture is completed[1]
M&A · Other
Wind Tre and Iliad completed the creation of Zefiro Net, a jointly controlled company supporting shared network infrastructure.
- 2022
Wind Tre and Iliad receive authorization for rural 5G sharing[1]
Regulation · Other
AGCOM authorized cooperation between the operators for 5G sharing in rural areas with low population density.
- 2020
WINDTRE unified consumer and business branding begins[1]
Campaign
The company began replacing the legacy Wind and 3 Italy identities with the unified WINDTRE brand, while consolidating its business branding under WINDTRE Business.
- 2020
Very Mobile launches as an MVNO[1]
Product launch · Pricing
Very Mobile launched as a mobile virtual network operator targeting the value segment of the Italian mobile market.
- 2018
CK Hutchison becomes the sole shareholder of Wind Tre[1]
M&A
On 7 September 2018, VEON sold its remaining 50 percent interest in Wind Tre to CK Hutchison Holdings after regulatory approval.
- 2016
Wind Tre is created through the merger of 3 Italy and Wind Telecomunicazioni[1]
M&A · Other
The equal joint venture combining the two Italian telecommunications companies was completed on 31 December 2016.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/wind-tre · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled