The Liguria Region and Telecom Italia today signed a Protocol of Understanding to extend the broadband network to a further 33 municipalities in the region, to reach a total of 208 municipalities by the end of 2009 and bring coverage to 96% of fixed telephone lines. The goal of the agreement is to provide an ever higher number of people, companies and local institutions with access to new digital technologies.
The agreement also entails the cooperation between the Liguria Region and Telecom Italia for the development of new public services based on the broadband network, in particular in the health and social welfare sector, transport, logistics, tourism, personal and regional safety, e-government, e-democracy, and to start up specific community and company training programs.
The President of the Liguria Region, Claudio Burlando, said: “The agreement is part of a broader process of development that has been underway in the Liguria Region in recent years. The goal is to bring broadband to the entire territory and gradually overcome the digital divide.”
Gabriele Galateri di Genola, Chairman of Telecom Italia, said: “We are determined to ensure that all the benefits of the “information society” are available to everyone and to the economy as a whole. The agreement signed today with the Liguria Region confirms Telecom Italia’s commitment to spreading broadband infrastructure so as to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Italian economy and to guarantee that its citizens have all the tools of communication and knowledge by which the highest standards of living are measured”.
Genoa, 22 April 2008