Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said this during a press conference following today's Council of Ministers meeting.

"The government's idea is to create an entity with a significant public presence that will manage the set-up of the towers. There is already a resolution taken by the Rai Board of Directors and there is the will to arrive at a reorganization of the sector," Giorgetti said.

As of today, Rai holds 65 percent of Rai Way, while EI Towers is 60 percent controlled by the F2i fund and 40 percent by MediaForEurope (MFE), which is owned by the Berlusconi family.

Last month government sources had reported that the decree would allow Rai to reduce its stake in Rai Way below 30 percent, but the minister discarded this option. "There is no descent below 30 percent."

In January, Rai said it was planning to sell a 15 percent stake in Rai Way to raise the resources needed to finance its new business plan.

Last week, the CEO of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Dario Scannapieco, said he would be ready to consider acquiring a stake in Rai Way if the conditions were right.

(Matteo Negri, editing Francesca Piscioneri)