"Italy shows signs of weakness in the development and penetration of new generation digital networks (broadband and ultraband) and access to the most innovative services". This was stated today by Angelo Marcello Cardani, president of the Communications Guarantee Authority, during the annual report in Parliament. "Although Italy's digital divide compared to the European average has partially reduced in the last year - added the number one of Agcom -, many efforts remain to be made and the Authority continues to play its part in this common objective ”.
Cardani then announced that "the Authority is preparing to approve the final provision relating to the new cycle of analysis of the fixed network access services markets, which will then have to be submitted to a community consultation". The decision will concern the period 2014-16, even if the hypothesis of extending the period up to 2017 is not excluded.
In 2013, operators' investments in the network fell by 5,4%, settling at 5,97 billion. Those in the fixed network decreased by 0,9%, to 3,045 billion, while those for the mobile network amounted to 3 billion, down by 9,8%, even if in this case it must be considered that in 2012 investments in mobile network were very high because the operators paid for the frequencies obtained at auction for Lte. For 2014, according to the Authority, a recovery of investments is expected for the creation of broadband and ultra-broadband plans.
2013 COMMUNICATIONS TURNOVER AT 56,1 BILLION (-9%)
In terms of turnover, the crisis made itself felt in 2013 as well, bringing the overall figure down by 5,4 billion. Revenues from telecommunications, radio and TV, publishing and internet, and postal services amounted to 56,1 billion, down 9% on 2013. In 2012 the turnover was 61,4 billion. The cut in household spending weighs above all: in the telecommunications sector alone, for example, where turnover amounted to 34,5 billion (-10,7%), the drop is more due to a decrease in prices than to a contraction in the use of services, while in publishing weigh the decline in advertising and ever less recourse to traditional publishing while the internet holds.
In 2013, both the turnover of free and pay TV fell: the former recorded a decrease of 5,97% to 4,695 billion, the latter of 2,02% to 3,326 billion. Radio loses 5% to 603 billion in revenues. Revenues from newspapers (-7,02% to 2,331 billion) and magazines (-17,28% to 2,351 billion) were also down, but also from the Internet which, with 1,466 billion, sees its turnover decrease by 2,46%. In postal services, the drop in revenues, equal to 7 billion, was 2,08%.
In 2013 Sky was confirmed as the first TV in Italy in terms of revenues at 2,60 billion, even if down by 3,5% and with an incidence on the total of 32,5%. Mediaset is last with 2,281 billion in revenues down by 8,2% and an incidence on the total of 28,4%. In second place is Rai whose revenues between license fees and advertising amounted to 2,31 billion, down by 1,6% and an incidence on the total of 28,9%. Overall, also considering TI Media, Cairo Communication, Discovery and other operators, TV revenues fell by 4,4% last year to 8,02 billion.
IN 15 YEARS PRICES DOWN BY 44%, ITALY BETTER THAN THE EU
In Italy, thanks to technological innovation and the liberalization of the market, there has been “a consistent and progressive reduction in prices in the telecommunications sector – Cardani underlined again -. The consumer price index has fallen by 44% over the past 15 years. There is no doubt that the continuous effect exerted by the regulated liberalization process, of a Community nature, which has affected the continent since the beginning of the XNUMXs”.
The comparison between Italy and the rest of Europe was also positive: "Since 2007, the consumer price index for telecommunications in Italy has registered a trend similar to that of Germany and lower than in France, Spain and above all the United Kingdom". In fact, the international comparison "shows - said Cardani - how Italian families can access the various telecommunications services by sustaining a lower cost than that borne on average by families in other European countries".
