Xinhua, Rome :
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has announced his government will spend 12 billion euros (over 13 billion US dollars) over 20 years for ultra-speed Internet.
Renzi illustrated the initiative to his center-left Democratic Party (PD) on Friday saying that his objective was the complete coverage of Italy to close a large digital divide with the rest of Europe.
The investment, he said, will feature 7 billion euros in public funding, including 2.1 billion euros in European regional funds, and 5 billion euros from private money.
The first tranche of Italian cash investments for the ultra-broadband plan, or 2.2 billion euros, will be immediately unlocked as “a first installment” through 2020, Renzi pointed out.
He said the goal was to to guarantee by 2020 that 85 percent of Italians have access to basic broadband.
Local experts observed, however, the ambitious plan can be conditional on a likely series of enacting measures or uncertain parliamentary process, which cannot grant the rapidity of its implementation.
“At this point, phone operators have nothing to do but get involved,” Renzi went on saying. He also mentioned the announcement made earlier this week that Italian telecommunications company Wind will merge into a 50-50 joint venture with competitor 3 Italia.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has announced his government will spend 12 billion euros (over 13 billion US dollars) over 20 years for ultra-speed Internet.
Renzi illustrated the initiative to his center-left Democratic Party (PD) on Friday saying that his objective was the complete coverage of Italy to close a large digital divide with the rest of Europe.
The investment, he said, will feature 7 billion euros in public funding, including 2.1 billion euros in European regional funds, and 5 billion euros from private money.
The first tranche of Italian cash investments for the ultra-broadband plan, or 2.2 billion euros, will be immediately unlocked as “a first installment” through 2020, Renzi pointed out.
He said the goal was to to guarantee by 2020 that 85 percent of Italians have access to basic broadband.
Local experts observed, however, the ambitious plan can be conditional on a likely series of enacting measures or uncertain parliamentary process, which cannot grant the rapidity of its implementation.
“At this point, phone operators have nothing to do but get involved,” Renzi went on saying. He also mentioned the announcement made earlier this week that Italian telecommunications company Wind will merge into a 50-50 joint venture with competitor 3 Italia.
