CSI-Piemonte has awarded Telecom Italia the contract to build a new fibre-optic network infrastructure that will provide broadband and on-line services for the Turin province. As part of a Territorial Pact, the network will extend to the Canavese, Pinerolese, Sangone and Stura areas high-speed Internet connections.
Promoted by the Turin Province administration, the €7 million contract is funded by Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development, and is part of the broader WI-PIE Programme run by the Piedmont Region. The contract calls for Telecom Italia to design and implement the new network. Once the network is up and running, the company will be responsible for network maintenance. Telecom Italia will also be responsible for marketing to alternative operators, in accordance with technical and pricing conditions established under the terms of the call for tender that will be the same for all.
Starting this autumn, Territorial Pact areas will benefit from higher bandwidth Internet connections thanks to a more than 430 km-long network infrastructure covering 124 strategic points of interest in 220 different Italian municipalities.
CSI-Piemonte is the Implementing Authority of this project designed to facilitate the starting up of new enterprises and offer local companies the tools needed to update their organizational and managerial structure, increase productivity and enhance competitivity on the market.
The contract was officially signed today by CSI-Piemonte President Francesco Brizio, and Telecom Italia’s Government Market Manager Ettore Spigno, from the company’s Top Clients & ICT Services Department. Attending the signing, Turin Province administration President Antonio Saitta recalled the Province involvement in the launch of recent projects for the development of new technologies. Thanks to Territorial Pacts up-to-date infrastructures - such as fibre-optic networks - will be offered to the territory, enabling economic development and greater competitiveness for local business.
Francesco Brizio says, “The contract we have signed today is a concrete example of how local government can play an active role in encouraging companies to make the most of ICT technologies and enhance their competitivity on domestic and international markets. It is no longer possible to conceive the economic growth without addressing the crucial issue of accessing high-speed networks and new generation services carried. The success of a venture like this is the ability to launch initiatives that boost the local area and provide all players with equal opportunities for growth and development.”
Ettore Spigno, Head of the Telecom Italia Government Market Unit at the Top Clients & ICT Services Department, says “The contract we have signed today with the Turin Province administration and CSI-Piemonte highlights Telecom Italia’s commitment to developing infrastructure in the local area. The contract will run alongside the major deal struck in 2006 with the Piedmont Region to extend broadband coverage to over 900 local town districts. We are now building on this successful venture to offer advanced networks and innovative services to local government, enterprises and citizens.”
Turin, March 19th, 2008