(Telecompaper) French media conglomerate Vivendi has announced that it has further boosted its stake in Telecom Italia to 20.03 percent of the company's ordinary shares. Vivendi has been the Italian operator's largest shareholder since June, when it received 8.24 percent of shares from Telefonica as part-payment for the sale of its Brazilian broadband unit GVT and purchased 6.66 percent of additional shares. The French group subsequently increased its holding to 15.5 percent in September and 19.9 percent earlier this month. In a statement Vivendi reiterated its intention to be a long-term shareholder of the Italian telecoms group and, more generally, to develop Vivendi's activities in southern Europe. The company is said to be looking for a wider platform for the distribution of content created by its subsidiaries such as Canal Plus and Universal Music Group in Italy.