FibreConnect e Open Fiber have signed a agreement of collaboration that aims to push the digitalization of Italian companies, in particular SMEs, by expanding the coverage of fiber optic networks and optimizing investments. This partnership will allow the two operators to interface their infrastructures, offering Internet Service Providers (ISPs) access to a greater number of industrial and production districts.
Digitalisation is a crucial challenge for Italian small and medium enterprises, who often struggle to keep up with their European counterparts. In Italy, investments in the ICT sector are dominated by large companies, while the economic fabric of the country is made up of around 5 million SMEs, with over 70% located in industrial and artisanal areas (Hague) outside urban centres.
The agreement between FibreConnect and Open Fiber fits into the context of the European objectives of the Digital Compass and the Italian Strategy for ultra-broadband, supported by the 1 Giga Italy Plan financed by the Pnrr. These initiatives aim to provide essential connectivity services for the innovation of Italian businesses, such as cloud computing, smart manufacturing and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Companies
FibreConnect, supported by the Infrastructure Fund for Growth - Esg of Azimut Libera Impresa Sgr, has already reached over 40 thousand companies in 85 Hagues throughout Italy, with a network backbone of 4.000 km connecting 20 PoPs and the main national Internet Exchanges. Recently, the European Investment Bank granted financing of 50 million euros for the development of the fiber optic network (FTTH), with a project expected to be completed by 2027.
Open Fiber, for its part, has brought FTTH optical fiber to 239 large and medium-sized cities and around 5.000 small municipalities in white areas. Active in 9 regions as part of the Italy 1 Giga plan, the company was awarded the FTTH Council Europe Operator Award 2024 for its contribution to the development of fiber optic infrastructures in Europe.
Comments
“The partnership signed is of great importance because it represents an important example of collaboration: two wholesale operators, who have the development of businesses in Italy among their main objectives, have chosen to collaborate and complement their respective coverage – he commented Renzo Ravaglia, CEO and co-Founder of FibreConnect –. Our customers will be able to access the coverage guaranteed by Open Fiber even outside industrial areas, just as Open Fiber customers will be able to access our coverage in industrial areas. We want to put as many companies as possible in the best conditions to reap the advantages offered by technology and, consequently, grow their business."
“Forging strategic agreements like today's is essential for a company like Open Fiber which aims to spread Ftth optical fiber and ultrabroadband connectivity in Italy – he underlined Stefano Weather in Mazzitelli, business market director of OF. –. In particular, the collaboration with FibreConnect will allow us to reduce the development times of the ultra-fast network and to provide, through our partner operators, Gigabit connectivity to a vast pool of companies and industries that need the latest generation technologies to compete on a global level ”.
