Starting with Monza, Telecom Italia and Fastweb are teaming up to develop their respective next generation fibre-optic networks (NGAN) using FTTCab (Fiber to the Cabinet) architecture. The news was announced today at an event attended by Mayor of Monza Roberto Scanagatti, Councillor for Productive Activities Carlo Abbà, Telecom Italia Head of Open Access North West Gianni Moretto, and the Chief Technology Officer of Fastweb Mario Mella.
This venture falls under the framework of a recently-signed agreement between the two companies. In areas of common interest where they are implementing their own NGAN network national development plans, the two companies will be pursuing all cost and investment optimization opportunities by sharing passive infrastructure and coordinating building work to speed up the roll out of optical fiber. The agreement is based on a shared belief that in Italy – and indeed across Europe – fiber cabinet connections leveraging next-generation fiber optics and electronics will ensure the rapid nationwide take-up of ultra-broadband services, in pursuit of European Digital Agenda targets.
FTTcab architecture entails laying fibre optics to roadside cabinets, offering ultra-broadband services and connection speeds of between a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 60-80 Megabits per second. Subsequent technological development will likely raise these speeds to beyond 100 Megabits. On a like-for-like investment basis, this architecture has a number of benefits over competing solutions: infrastructure takes less time to implement, it causes less inconvenience to people, and it offers greater coverage.
In order to build the ultra-broadband network for the city of Monza, Telecom Italia and Fastweb are laying around 230 km of fiber optics to link up around 300 roadside cabinets fitted with next-generation electronics. The network will bring coverage to around 110,000 people and some 10,000 business users. For the most part, the fiber will be laid in existing cable ducts; just 12 km of new excavations will be required. Starting early next year, citizens of Monza will be able to use ultra-broadband connections that allow current services to perform far better and enable a whole new generation of applications such as business cloud computing services and local government smart city implementations.
To give an initial boost to the NGAN network and speed up building times, both companies will be seeking to achieve synergies by using the infrastructure available to each party, as well as adopting innovative techniques and tools to reduce work time and cost, and ensure low-level environmental impact.
Thanks to the participation of the Municipality of Monza, “mini trench” digging techniques are being used to ensure the safety of all infrastructure work carried out. This groundbreaking excavation and covering technique requires excavations just a few centimetres wide and 30 centimetres deep. The technique minimizes inconvenience to citizens and public services by as much as 80%, cuts workplace accidents by 67%, and reduces the amount of time required to build telecommunications infrastructure by 80%.
Mayor of Monza Roberto Scanagatti says: “Monza is one of the first cities in Italy to participate in this significant project by these two major Italian telecommunications industry players. There can be no denying that this is a major vote of confidence in our city and its development potential. The highly innovative project we are presenting today is one that we are doing our utmost to facilitate. The project will bring high-speed internet to residential customers and businesses in and around Monza and help boost the local economy. As a municipal government, we are keen to highlight the fact that thanks to this partnership between the phone companies and the Municipality, cable laying will take place using leading-edge and less invasive techniques that cause the least possible inconvenience to citizens and businesses.”
Gianni Moretto, Head of Telecom Italia Open Access North West, says: “Telecom Italia has decided to boost development of its next generation fiber-optic network. Our ambitious plan is to reach 100 cities by the end of 2014, covering around 6 million properties, corresponding to 25% of the population. Through this agreement with Fastweb, we will be keen to seize all opportunities to optimize fibre optic cable laying infrastructure work and reduce inconveniences for citizens. We are pleased that Monza is the first city where this partnership to build this major infrastructure is getting underway. This infrastructure will enable citizens to use next-generation services and foster local economic development.”
“FASTWEB already has Italy’s largest fibre optic access network: thirty-three thousand kilometres that directly reach 2 million people and businesses,” says Mario Mella, FASTWEB’s Chief Technology Officer. “Working together with Telecom Italia, we are expanding our next-generation network and investing so that by the end of 2014 we will have reached 5.5 million homes and businesses, 20% of the Italian market. We continue to be committed to making our internet services faster and faster and ever more competitive. The citizens and business of Monza won’t just have ultra-broadband access; they will be able to choose. We want to help equip Italy with leading-edge technological infrastructure capable of playing a key role in Italy’s economic development and competitiveness.”
Monza, 15 October 2012
