In Rome today, Telecom Italia presented the second edition of the "Italia Connessa - Agende Digitali Regionali" report, to promote the culture of digital innovation in Italy, starting from the Regions and in synergy with the national and EU digital inclusion projects.
For every Region, the volume provides analysis covering a vast field: from innovation to infrastructure, the digitalisation of Public Administration to the spread of ICT equipment and digital services among families and businesses.
In a context in which the public efforts of the Government and Central Administration to extend digital inclusion are increasing, the role of the Regions and Local Authorities is fundamental, because they know the specific features of their territories, and are able to better identify and focus on the needs of citizens and businesses, anticipating their requests.
Marco Patuano, Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Italia, declared: "The availability of broadband infrastructure is certainly a priority for our Country, and Telecom Italia will continue to provide a decisive contribution in this direction, making high speed fixed network connections available to over 50% of buildings, and 4G mobile network coverage to over 80% of the population, by the end of 2016. The most significant delays in digital growth regard only in part infrastructures, they primarily relate to the spread and use of services, and with Italia Connessa Telecom Italia intends to help the Italian Regions to define their own priorities and their own digital agenda".
In the presence of, among others, Agostino Ragosa (Director General of Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale - the Agency for Digital Italy), Stefano Parisi (Chairman of Digital Confindustria), Stefano Caldoro (Presidents of the Campania Region) and Sergio Bettotti (Network Development and ICT Manager of the Autonomous Province of Trento), the event involved the principal institutional figures engaged, in their various capacities, in the development of technological innovation, and they discussed the progress of the digitalisation of the country.
During the event, the Regions that are carrying out a "Digital Check Up", with the assistance of Telecom Italia, reported on the policies, priorities, and projects for development of the network economy in their territories.
In addition, Grugliasco was declared the winner of the "Italia Connessa" Contest organised by Telecom Italia to promote the culture of innovation in local authorities, involving over 150 medium sized Italian municipalities with populations of between 25,000 and 40,000 inhabitants.
Municipality of Grugliasco, in the province of Turin, was chosen by an independent Advisory Board made up of prominent personalities in the world of innovation, and won because it submitted the best local digital development plan. Telecom Italia will create fixed (NGN) and mobile (LTE) infrastructure in the territory of Grugliasco municipality ahead of its development schedule.
The members of the jury were: Roberto Sambuco (Chief of the communications department of the Ministry of Economic Development), Francesco Sacco (Bocconi University), Stefano Quintarelli (Internet expert and member of the Chamber of Deputies' Commission on Transport and Telecommunications), Stefano Parisi (Chairman of Digital Confindustria), Agostino Ragosa (Director General of Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale - the Agency for Digital Italy), Piero Fassino (Chairman of ANCI - the association of Italian Municipalities).
Rome, 12 December 2013
