Delays in ultra-broadband and delays in the use of the Internet by Italians. So late – we are in the last places in the EU – that we risk missing the train of revenues on the Web. This is the bitter observation that emerges from the annual report in Parliament by Angelo Cardani, president of the Communications Authority (Agcom) . The number of Italians who use the Internet has in fact grown by only 3 points, to 60%, a share on the margins of the European ranking.
" public-private synergy represents an opportunity to catch up compared to other European countries in the creation of networks and, consequently, in the use of high quality access services (at least 30 megabits per second of download capacity) by subscribers”, said Cardani. And again: "The guarantee of high-quality Internet access for everyone is still a long way off, even if, also as a result of the regulation, the situation has clearly improved in the last three years". Internet access above 30 megabits per second increased from 1% in 2013 to 15% in 2016.
“It will be necessary to work for bridge the geographical gap in terms of availability of broadband networks and ensure territorial cohesion - said the Guarantor - but also to avoid the paradox that in areas not equipped with new infrastructures, consumers are also damaged in terms of the prices of the traditional services offered". “Aggressive competition – he added – for the conquest of customers on new networks must not, moreover, take place at the expense of additional investments in innovation and greater coverage, just as dynamic and potential competition should not be hindered. We will prioritize these objectives with the new 2018-2020 regulatory cycle.”
Finally the TV. 2016 “will also be remembered for the renewal of the State-Rai Agreement, which outlines the framework in which the mission and obligations of the public service are placed" underlined the Agcom president, explaining that according to the chosen public-private model, Rai can carry out commercial activities in the competitive market, albeit to a limited extent and such as to not generate distortions on the market. The five-year service contract must be based on the principles, criteria and conditions of the Convention. “Even through the Authority's initiative, it will be important clearly define the basis on which Rai will have to operate, both in terms of services-products for consumers who pay the license fee and with respect to commercial and editorial activities carried out on the free market. A more difficult role in a 'mixed' system without a clear legislative choice on the separation (by channel, by time slot, by programming content, as occurs in other European public services) of the activities covered by the public service fee, which represents the 74% of total resources”.
The TV sector confirms the primacy of Sky, which remains the first Italian TV for revenues in 2016. In the context of the market which is worth 8,36 billion in turnover, Sky maintains the largest share with 32%). RAI follows, rising to second place with a share close to 30% and falling behind Fininvest/Mediaset, with a share of 28%
