Italy's Government Considers New Measures to Accelerate 5G Rollout
Funding for Universities and Hospitals; New Public Plan in Consideration Amid PNRR Revisions
The Italian government, through its Department for Digital Transformation, is examining new strategies to expedite the development of advanced 5G infrastructure.
This initiative aims to address the current lag in rolling out true 5G technology, specifically the standalone variant that operates independently of existing 4G networks.
Standalone 5G offers benefits such as reduced latency and improved energy efficiency, making it crucial for industrial and business applications.
As part of this effort, the government has allocated 20 million euros to finance specific coverage projects within universities and hospitals.
Additionally, a broader public plan is being considered, potentially leveraging the upcoming revision of Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) expected to commence in the coming months.
Italy currently enjoys one of the highest coverage rates for 5G in populated areas across Europe, though this predominantly involves hybrid technology reliant on 4G infrastructure.
During a recent assessment by Infratel, it was revealed that no mobile operator plans to implement standalone 5G technology by 2026, which has been met with disappointment.
This shortfall is considered contrary to the government's expectations and is seen as a hindrance to realizing the full potential of 5G.
The PNRR's 5G plan is funding the creation of elements necessary for developing standalone networks, aiming to foster a conducive environment for telecommunications companies to invest in such solutions.
As of November 30, 2024, the PNRR's 'densification' project has covered 26% of designated remote areas, activating 148 out of 1,385 planned sites.
Furthermore, the 'backhauling' project, which involves connecting radio base stations to fiber optics to enhance their efficiency, has reached 59% completion, with 5,603 out of 9,462 sites connected.
Despite these advancements, the Infratel mapping has highlighted 5,700 existing towers that will remain unconnected to fiber optics by 2026, indicating the PNRR alone may be insufficient.
In response, Alessio Butti, Undersecretary for Innovation, stated that the government is seeking additional funding sources for a new public plan to expand 5G's reach comprehensively.
Separate from the anticipated PNRR adjustments, 20 million euros from the Innovation Technology Fund will be used to support indoor distributed antenna systems (DAS) within public venues like university campuses and complex hospital facilities.
This funding is aligned with the broader governmental strategy for ultrabroadband development introduced a year and a half ago, which remains pending.
Undersecretary Butti has noted the urgency for private operators to develop business cases that harness the standalone 5G applications efficiently.
This initiative aims to address the current lag in rolling out true 5G technology, specifically the standalone variant that operates independently of existing 4G networks.
Standalone 5G offers benefits such as reduced latency and improved energy efficiency, making it crucial for industrial and business applications.
As part of this effort, the government has allocated 20 million euros to finance specific coverage projects within universities and hospitals.
Additionally, a broader public plan is being considered, potentially leveraging the upcoming revision of Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) expected to commence in the coming months.
Italy currently enjoys one of the highest coverage rates for 5G in populated areas across Europe, though this predominantly involves hybrid technology reliant on 4G infrastructure.
During a recent assessment by Infratel, it was revealed that no mobile operator plans to implement standalone 5G technology by 2026, which has been met with disappointment.
This shortfall is considered contrary to the government's expectations and is seen as a hindrance to realizing the full potential of 5G.
The PNRR's 5G plan is funding the creation of elements necessary for developing standalone networks, aiming to foster a conducive environment for telecommunications companies to invest in such solutions.
As of November 30, 2024, the PNRR's 'densification' project has covered 26% of designated remote areas, activating 148 out of 1,385 planned sites.
Furthermore, the 'backhauling' project, which involves connecting radio base stations to fiber optics to enhance their efficiency, has reached 59% completion, with 5,603 out of 9,462 sites connected.
Despite these advancements, the Infratel mapping has highlighted 5,700 existing towers that will remain unconnected to fiber optics by 2026, indicating the PNRR alone may be insufficient.
In response, Alessio Butti, Undersecretary for Innovation, stated that the government is seeking additional funding sources for a new public plan to expand 5G's reach comprehensively.
Separate from the anticipated PNRR adjustments, 20 million euros from the Innovation Technology Fund will be used to support indoor distributed antenna systems (DAS) within public venues like university campuses and complex hospital facilities.
This funding is aligned with the broader governmental strategy for ultrabroadband development introduced a year and a half ago, which remains pending.
Undersecretary Butti has noted the urgency for private operators to develop business cases that harness the standalone 5G applications efficiently.
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