The agreement foresees the development of new e-government services for the community, companies and local institutions in the health and social welfare, transport and logistics, regional safety and training sectors
In three years broadband coverage in Piedmont will extend to 96% of the region’s fixed telephone lines
The Piedmont region and Telecom Italia today signed a protocol of understanding with the aim of launching a series of joint initiatives to bring access to new digital technologies to an ever larger segment of the community, companies and local institutions. The agreement calls for Telecom Italia, over a period of three years, to extend the coverage of the Broadband network in the region to over 900 municipalities, bringing coverage to 96% of fixed telephone lines.
The Piedmont region and Telecom Italia will also cooperate in the development of new public services and e-government based on the Broadband network, in particular in the health and social welfare, transport and logistics, regional safety and community training sectors.
The President of the Piedmont region, Mercedes Bresso, said: “I am delighted to be able to sign the protocol of understanding between the Piedmont region and Telecom Italia. The agreement will make it possible to equip almost the entire Piedmont area (approximately 96% of fixed-line users) with Broadband and related technologies and services. The agreement also represents, through the WI-PIE programme, a first strategic goal as the basis for further developments.”
Marco Tronchetti Provera, the Chairman of Telecom Italia, said: “The agreement with the Piedmont region is confirmation of Telecom Italia’s commitment to support innovative services, based on information technology and Broadband telecommunications networks, on a national scale, with investments and targeted initiatives aimed at their development and distribution”.
“This important achievement – explained the Regional Minister for University, Research, Innovation and Internationalization, Andrea Bairati – is the fruit of the enabling conditions made possible by the development of the WI-PIE Programme, which has created a territorial context which is particularly favourable to the dissemination of Broadband. Telecom Italia’s commitment – concluded Bairati – will allow the Piedmont region to free significant resources which will be used to develop services and network content, as well as joint operations of research and development.”
Turin, 21 June 2006