Connecting an Olympic Games held across cities, historic arenas and slopes at altitudes above 2,000 metres – and leaving behind infrastructure to serve communities even after the Games. This is the challenge that TIM took on as Official Telecommunications Partner of Milano Cortina 2026, providing all the connectivity services for the event with a special plan to boost 5G mobile coverage and ultra-fast connections at all competition venues, key locations for the Games, and along the main routes between them.
TIM Group brings technological innovation to the heart of Milano Cortina 2026, offering the 2 million spectators attending in presence from more than 93 countries a unique and top-quality service experience.
The service is made possible by a domestic network infrastructure (backbone) extending for over 8,000 kilometres, with pervasive connectivity capable of guaranteeing secure real-time communications. The system is designed to ensure continuity and resilience even after the Winter Olympics have ended, with ultra-high-capacity redundant connections of up to 100 Gigabits per second. The aim is to build a lasting technological legacy in order to transform cities and communities into smart cities and smart lands.
It all starts at the San Siro Stadium, venue of the Opening Ceremony, where TIM's mobile network has been significantly strengthened to handle the exceptional traffic peaks typical of major events. In particular, a special 5G network has been set up using innovative technology unique to Italy. This will increase download speeds by 500%, ensuring unprecedented customer experience and a flow of hundreds of terabytes of data, breaking down distances between athletes and audiences around the world.
All the key venues of the Winter Games will benefit from the upgraded mobile coverage, including the PalaItalia Santa Giulia, Fiera Milano City and Fiera Milano Rho. In addition, the Arena di Verona – which will host the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games, plus the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games – has been equipped with a new 5G network designed with respect for the historical surroundings.
TIM's technological investment also extends to the Olympic resorts, from Bormio to Livigno, and from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Val di Fiemme, with significant improvements in 4G and 5G performance and a particular focus on Alpine areas, where coverage needs have to be balanced with environmental and landscape constraints. Around Tofane, Cortina, Duca d'Aosta, Rumerlo and Socrepes, visually discreet systems have been installed to ensure coverage around the most iconic skiing hubs.
Transport routes between venues, extending for over 1,300 kilometres, will also benefit from enhanced connectivity: from the Stelvio to the SS51 in Cortina, as well as the Ponte di Legno and Valdidentro-Bormio sections, and the A4, A22, A23 and A27 motorways. Coverage on the Pedemontana Veneta Highway has been significantly improved, ensuring constant connectivity on a road with daily traffic of 84,000 vehicles. The network at the airports of Milan Malpensa and Venice has also been upgraded.
Finally, TIM has provided the Milano Cortina 2026 organisation with more than 10,000 SIM cards and 4G/5G routers, plus over 3,600 SIM cards for athletes and para-athletes. The company is also guaranteeing the presence of more than 1,000 engineers working around the clock for the duration of the event. TIM's initiatives for Milano Cortina also extend to the public's digital experience, with fans able to follow all of the Winter Olympics on the Eurosport channels available on TimVision – Italy’s most comprehensive aggregator of streaming services.
The partnership between TIM and Milano Cortina 2026 marks a strategic investment for the country's digital future. Infrastructure designed for this major international event will remain as a legacy to local communities, enabling new opportunities for economic and social growth, facilitating digital development and tourism, and driving new services for people and businesses.
TIM Press Office |
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timpressoffice@telecomitalia.it www.gruppotim.it |
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Milan, 4 February 2026
