Invitalia, Telecom Italia and Italtel have signed a Development Agreement worth a total of more than €61 million to extend the broadband network and foster leading-edge services in Sicily.
Telecom Italia is investing more than €41 million to increase fixed-line and mobile broadband network capacity throughout Sicily, replacing copper network infrastructure with more fibre optics to boost leading-edge services. The project also paves the way for future next-generation broadband network development.
Italtel is investing €20 million: €18 million to build a software-led platform for video, voice and internet services over the latest generation of networks, and €2 million to diversify output at the Carini premises in Palermo, where it will build out infrastructure for a software factory and an engineering hub to produce industrial-grade software-led products.
Presented by Telecom Italia and Italtel, the plan is being co-funded by Invitalia, which is contributing around €18 million of funds from the Ministry of Economic Development.
Invitalia CEO Domenico Arcuri says: "This agreement is a big technology boost for the whole of Sicily, fostering the creation of what will potentially be a tool for enterprise, the institutions and citizens to achieve growth and foster knowledge, leveraging the next-generation network. The Development Agreement managed by our agency and funded by the Ministry of Economic Development is an effective approach because of its streamlined procedures and a timescale better suited to local needs."
Roberto Opilio, Head of Technology at Telecom Italia, says: "This venture offers confirmation that a public/private partnership and synergies between industrial groups are vital to support the weaker parts of the country, particularly at challenging times like the present. The building of technologically-advanced telecommunications infrastructure is a key driver of greater competitivity and local development."
Stefano Pileri, Italtel CEO, notes: "This Development Agreement project is a significant step in digitizing and fostering the dissemination of leading-edge services – a step that Italy must take, particularly in its southern regions. For Italtel, taking part in this project is important for two reasons: on the one hand it is a fine opportunity for our Palermo research hub; on the other, it gives us a chance to fully leverage our technological expertise and R&D capacity in groundbreaking network and next-generation services for video, voice and data."
Telecom Italia is investing more than €41 million to increase fixed-line and mobile broadband network capacity throughout Sicily, replacing copper network infrastructure with more fibre optics to boost leading-edge services. The project also paves the way for future next-generation broadband network development.
Italtel is investing €20 million: €18 million to build a software-led platform for video, voice and internet services over the latest generation of networks, and €2 million to diversify output at the Carini premises in Palermo, where it will build out infrastructure for a software factory and an engineering hub to produce industrial-grade software-led products.
Presented by Telecom Italia and Italtel, the plan is being co-funded by Invitalia, which is contributing around €18 million of funds from the Ministry of Economic Development.
Invitalia CEO Domenico Arcuri says: "This agreement is a big technology boost for the whole of Sicily, fostering the creation of what will potentially be a tool for enterprise, the institutions and citizens to achieve growth and foster knowledge, leveraging the next-generation network. The Development Agreement managed by our agency and funded by the Ministry of Economic Development is an effective approach because of its streamlined procedures and a timescale better suited to local needs."
Roberto Opilio, Head of Technology at Telecom Italia, says: "This venture offers confirmation that a public/private partnership and synergies between industrial groups are vital to support the weaker parts of the country, particularly at challenging times like the present. The building of technologically-advanced telecommunications infrastructure is a key driver of greater competitivity and local development."
Stefano Pileri, Italtel CEO, notes: "This Development Agreement project is a significant step in digitizing and fostering the dissemination of leading-edge services – a step that Italy must take, particularly in its southern regions. For Italtel, taking part in this project is important for two reasons: on the one hand it is a fine opportunity for our Palermo research hub; on the other, it gives us a chance to fully leverage our technological expertise and R&D capacity in groundbreaking network and next-generation services for video, voice and data."