Raimondi: Digital Divide completely eliminated within a year
Moretto: A step towards achieving EU Digital Agenda objectives
Broadband is now available in 274 of 707 Lombardy municipalities, many of which did not previously have broadband service. High-speed connections are now guaranteed for an additional 327,000 people out of the total of 800,000 who live in areas where the service was unavailable when, the last year, the Lombardy Regional government and Telecom Italia commenced this project to eliminate the digital divide by rolling out ADSL to “market failure” areas.
Thanks in part to the venture, today 96% of people who live in Lombardy have access to high-speed internet services.
One hundred and fifty municipalities (out of a total of 707) now have full coverage; the remaining 124 municipalities are partially covered, as work is being completed in these areas.
These 274 municipalities are distributed as follows: 50 in the province of Bergamo, 43 in Brescia, 13 in Como, 28 in Cremona, 16 in Lecco, 10 in Lodi, 16 in Mantova, 5 in Milano, 1 in Monza and Brianza, 60 in Pavia, 10 in Sondrio and 22 in Varese.
30,000 NEW LINES ACTIVATED - Marcello Raimondi, the Lombardy Region’s Councillor for the Environment, Energy and Networks, says: “High-speed Internet is ever more accessible now that coverage has arrived in these areas. Thus far, around 30,000 people have taken out a new contract for an ADSL line.”
This achievement has been made possible by building new technological infrastructure and upgrading 237 telephone exchanges and roadside cabinets, to the benefit of some 327 thousand local people.
The plan enables local people in these municipalities to connect via ADSL technology at speeds of up to 7 or 20 Megabits, with positive repercussions on the local economy, business and individuals.
Giovanni Moretto, Head of Access Operations in Telecom Italia’s North-West Area, says “This project shows that we can overcome the nation’s digital divide by adopting a virtuous model undertaken through tangible commitment by institutions and enterprise. Achieving one of the main European digital agenda priorities, this approach makes it possible to develop broadband networks on the ground that cater to the needs of citizens and business.”
Raimondi adds: “We have always regarded communication to be a universal right. As a result of this challenging project, we guarantee this opportunity to people who live in areas where broadband installation is not economically viable. Our approach is already being held up in Europe as an example of good practice. We have no doubt that it will open up new opportunities for knowledge, study, economic development and job growth in the very parts of our region that have the greatest need.”
WORK COMPLETED WITHIN A YEAR - The entire project will be completed by the end of the first half of 2013, fully on schedule, resulting in broadband access coverage of the 707 municipalities selected by the Regional government (around 800 thousand inhabitants). To achieve this, nine hundred and eighteen telephone exchanges and roadside cabinets across the area are being upgraded, and a total of around 3,700 km of fibre optics laid. The project will cost a total of around €95 million, of which €41 million is being funded by the Lombardy Regional Administration and the remainder by Telecom Italia.
Moreover, thanks to agreements between Telecom Italia and the provincial governments of Bergamo, Brescia, Lodi, Pavia and Sondrio, leading-edge “mini-trench” digging techniques are being used to reduce environmental impact and the site costs of building telecommunications networks and upgrading broadband services.
LIST OF THE 274 MUNICIPALITIES
PROVINCE OF BERGAMO (50):
Coverage completed: Adrara San Martino, Adrara San Rocco, Ardesio, Azzone, Barzana, Bolgare, Bossico, Calcinate, Capizzone, Carobbio degli Angeli, Cene, Cerete, Cisano Bergamasco, Cividate al Piano, Colere, Comun Nuovo, Cortenuova, Credaro, Fonteno, Foresto Sparso, Gromo, Lurano, Luzzana, Mapello, Monasterolo del Castello, Onore, Osio Sopra, Predore, Pumenengo, Rogno, Roncola, Scanzorosciate, Solto Collina, Sovere, Spirano, Tavernola Bergamasca, Torre Pallavicina, Urgnano, Valbondione, Viadanica, and Vigolo.
Partial coverage: Almenno San Bartolomeo, Bagnatica, Cenate Sotto, Gandellino, Palazzago, Parzanica, Terno d’Isola, Valgoglio, and Zanica.
PROVINCE OF BRESCIA (43):
Coverage completed: Alfianello, Barghe, Bassano Bresciano, Berzo Inferiore,Bienno, Bovegno, Castrezzato, Caino, Collio, Corteno Golgi, Erbusco, Fiesse, Gambara, Isorella, Leno, Lodrino, Mairano, Marcheno, Montirone, Nuvolera, Offlaga, Ome, Palazzolo sull’Oglio, Passirano, Pavone del Mella, Pezzaze, Piancogno, Pozzolengo, Preseglie, Puegnago sul Garda, San Gervasio Bresciano, Tavernole sul Mella, Villachiara, and Visano.
Partial coverage: Cigole, Desenzano del Garda, Iseo, Lonato, Manerba del Garda, Monticelli Brusati, Provaglio d’Iseo, San Felice del Benaco, and Serle.
PROVINCE OF COMO (13):
Coverage completed: Asso, Cirimido, Domaso, Gironico, Lanzo d’Intelvi, Locate Varesino, Monguzzo, Peglio, Rodero, Ronago, and Vertemate con Minoprio.
Partial coverage: Bregnano, and Senna Comasco.
PROVINCE OF CREMONA (28):
Coverage completed: Agnadello, Annicco, Bonemerse, Calvatone, Camisano, Casale Cremasco – Vidolasco, Casalbuttano ed Uniti, Cingia de’ Botti, Cumignano sul Naviglio, Dovera, Gabbioneta-Binanuova, Genivolta, Ostiano, Pieve d’Olmi, Ticengo, Trigolo, and Volongo.
Partial coverage: Capella Cantone, Fiesco, Malagnino, Motta Baluffi, Persico Dosimo, Pescarolo ed Uniti, Ripalta Cremasca, San Bassano, Sesto ed Uniti, Stagno Lombardo, and Tornata.
PROVINCE OF LECCO (16):
Coverage completed: Airuno, Barzio, Calco, Colle Brianza, Inbersago, Galbiate, Pescate, Vestreno, and Viganò.
Partial coverage: Cassina Valsassina, Cortenova, Cremeno, Introbio, Moggio, Pasturo, and Primaluna.
PROVINCE OF LODI (10):
Coverage completed: Camairago, Casaletto Lodigiano, Caselle Lurani, Castiglione d’Adda, Cavacurta, Galgagnano, Graffignana, Massalengo, Salerano sul Lambro, and Pieve Fissiraga.
PROVINCE OF MANTOVA (16):
Coverage completed: Commessaggio, Curtatone, Dosolo, Gazzuolo, Magnacavallo, Piubega, and Rodigo.
Partial coverage: Cavriana, Marcaria, Mottegiana, Pomponesco, Redondesco, Solferino, Spineda, Suzzara, and Viadana.
PROVINCE OF MILANO (5):
Coverage completed: Bubbiano, Pieve Emanuele, and Vermezzo.
Partial coverage: Buccinasco, and Canegrate.
PROVINCE OF MONZA AND BRIANZA (1):
Coverage completed: Macherio.
PROVINCE OF PAVIA (60):
Coverage completed: Alagna, Arena Po, Badia Pavese, Bascapè, Bastida Pancarana, Casatisma, Castelletto di Branduzzo, Castello d’Agogna, Cilavegna, Copiano, Corana, Gravellona Lomellina, Inverno e Monteleone, Lardirago, Lomello, Magherno, Olevano di Lomellina, Ottobiano, Palestro, Parona, Pieve Albignola, Pieve del Cairo, Pieve Porto Morone, San Zenone al Po, Silvano Pietra, Spessa, Tromello, Valeggio, Valle Lomellina, Vellezzo Bellini, Verretto, Vistarino, and Zeccone.
Partial coverage: Albuzzano, Bagnaria, Battuda, Bornasco, Bosnasco, Ceranova, Chignolo Po, Cura Carpignano, Galliavola, Gambarana, Mezzana Bigli, Mezzana Rabattone, Miradolo Terme, Monticelli Pavese, Ponte Nizza, Portalbera, Robecco Pavese, Rognano, Romagnese, Roncaro, Sant’Alessio con Vialone, Sommo, Torrevecchia Pia, Zavattarello, Zeme, Zenevredo, and Zinasco.
PROVINCE OF SONDRIO (10):
Coverage completed: Bianzone, Chiuro, Dazio, Montagna in Valtellina, Teglio, and Valfurva.
Partial coverage: Buglio in Monte, Civo, Piateda, and Tresivio.
PROVINCE OF VARESE (22):
Coverage completed: Brusimpiano, Caravate, Carnago, Casorate Sempione, Cassano Magnago, Castelveccana, Comabbio, Ispra, Jerago con Orago, Mercallo, Monvalle, Porto Valtravaglia, Ranco, Sesto Calende, and Travedona-Monate.
Partial coverage: Agra, Brezzo di Bedero, Casciago, Comerio, Cuasso al Monte, Dumenza, and Oggiona con Santo Stefano.
Milan, 17 May 2012
