Vauban Infrastructure Partners, a European asset management firm focused on infrastructure equity investments, and Crédit Agricole Assurances, an insurance company, agreed to acquire a 45% stake in Bluevia, a neutral wholesale FTTH provider in rural areas in Spain, from Telefónica, a Spanish multinational telecommunications company, for €1bn. "We are very excited about this project that will allow Telefonica España to remain the undisputed leader in fibre and will be a key lever to accelerate the deployment in rural areas as we continue to move forward in our commitment to shut down the copper network and to promote better connectivity in a more efficient and sustainable way," Emilio Gayo, Telefónica Spain Chairman.