12:45 PM -- It’s been a little over a month since Italy awarded WiMax licenses at 3.5 GHz, and BT Italy, a unit of BT Global Services , has wasted no time in cozying up to the biggest license winner AriaDSL. (See BT Does WiMax in Italy and BT Wants WiMax.)

The two service providers signed a collaboration agreement where BT will help AriaDSL develop the WiMax network and service and then use AriaDSL's wireless services to reach corporate and SME customers in the country.

BT Italy was one of the initial 48 companies that expressed an interest in the Italian WiMax auction, but it did not secure a license. (See Italy's WiMax Auction Arrives, Look Who Wants Italian WiMax, Italian WiMax Bids, and Wind Exits WiMax Auction.)

AriaDSL paid €47.5 million (US$74.2 million) for licenses in every region offered, which will allow it to build a national WiMax network. In total, the Italian WiMax auction took in €136.3 million ($213 million).

Telecom Italia (TIM) also won three licenses for €13.8 million ($21.5 million) covering the central and southern regions of Italy and the island of Sardinia.

— Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Unstrung