by EH
Friuli Venezia Giulia has become one of the first regions in Italy to complete its Ultra-Broadband Plan for so-called white areas, rural zones previously lacking high-speed internet infrastructure. The initiative, presented in Trieste this Wednesday, extends fiber-optic FTTH (Fiber to the Home) connectivity to 181 small municipalities, marking a significant step in the region’s digital development efforts.
Governor Massimiliano Fedriga and Regional Councilor for Information Systems Sebastiano Callari highlighted the project’s completion, underscoring its potential economic and social benefits.
“Today’s development models depend on the ability of businesses, schools, and research institutions to connect to digital networks,” Fedriga said. “Public institutions and the private sector must work together to accelerate economic growth and improve national competitiveness.”
The broadband expansion was carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), Infratel Italia, and Open Fiber, which installed more than 3,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable, connecting approximately 160,000 properties and over 800 public administration offices.
The initiative builds on previous investments in digital infrastructure. Callari noted that the region had already established a Regional Public Network (RPR) with 1,600 kilometers of backbone fiber and an additional 500 kilometers of access networks in urban and industrial areas, linking more than 1,300 public offices.
“This allowed Open Fiber to complement the existing infrastructure, starting with the most underserved areas,” Callari explained. “White areas, often overlooked by major telecom operators, have now received targeted investment through a combination of national, regional, and European Union funds.”
With the fiber network now operational, residents in these areas can apply for high-speed internet access. Service providers are expected to deliver connectivity directly to homes.
“Every citizen, entrepreneur, and student in Friuli Venezia Giulia will now have access to digital tools with speeds reaching and exceeding 1 gigabit per second,” Callari said.
Regional officials indicated that the project is part of broader efforts to enhance digital inclusion. The administration is also investing in digital skills training through new digital facilitation centers aimed at expanding technological literacy across the region.
Friuli Venezia Giulia’s leadership signaled that it intends to continue advancing digital connectivity, positioning itself among the most digitally integrated regions in Italy.
