Wind ready to invest in Italy's new broadband network

MILAN Oct 8 (Reuters) - Italy mobile phone operator Wind is ready to invest in Italy's new generation broadband telecom network, Wind Chairman Naguib Sawiris said on Thursday.

In a statement Sawiris, who owns Orascom Telecom (ORTE.CA), said Wind was committed to developing the fibre optic network in Italy.

"We are ready to invest by ourselves or with other operators to build the new generation network," he said.

He added the company will invest in and develop pilot projects in coming months to cable medium-sized Italian cities.

Sawiris was in the Rome residence of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi earlier on Thursday for about one hour, a Reuters reporter on the spot said.

Former monopolist Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI) is investing in the move to fibre optic from copper wire based on demand and clients' willingness to pay for it. [ID:nL81003404]

In July, Sawiris said he was ready to look at buying Italian Internet service provider Tiscali SpA (TIS.MI) if the company was put up for sale.

In the statement on Thursday Sawiris also said Wind had posted a growth in revenues and clients in the third quarter of the year.

(Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing Bernard Orr)