Broken Promises and Old Wires: Italy’s Race Against Time for True Nationwide Internet

On paper, Italy’s National Connectivity Fund is a bold leap toward bridging the country’s digital divide; in reality, it may be running an all-too-familiar obstacle course. With hundreds of thousands still waiting for the high-speed internet they were promised years ago, and major players returning for a second chance after missing the mark, the question remains: can Italy deliver where it has repeatedly stumbled?

Fast Facts

• €712 million allocated across seven geographic lots to connect 1.8 million addresses left out of previous broadband plans.
• Operators must guarantee at least 1 Gbit/s download and 200 Mbit/s upload speeds during peak traffic hours.
• Open Fiber, previously responsible for significant delays, is eligible to bid again for new public funds.
• Technological neutrality allows both fiber and wireless solutions-potentially at odds with looming EU regulations.
• All work must finish by June 30, 2030, with no room for extensions or renegotiations.

The Devil in the Details

The National Connectivity Fund, launched by Invitalia in April 2026, is Italy’s latest bid to patch the holes left by past digital infrastructure failures. Split into seven regional lots, the fund targets addresses overlooked or delayed under the “Italia a 1 Giga” plan. The rules are tough: providers must connect a minimum number of “mandatory” addresses to qualify for up to 70% public funding, with the rest coming from their own pockets. The technical bar is high-not just on paper, but in real, peak-hour performance.

But beneath the glossy figures lies a familiar pattern of political and industrial missteps. Open Fiber, the company most responsible for the last plan’s shortfall-over 700,000 addresses left unconnected-faces no extra scrutiny or penalty. Instead, it can compete for new funds, including to redo work it failed to complete the first time. Meanwhile, Invitalia takes over project management from Infratel Italia, a move that may improve oversight, but offers no structural guarantee for better outcomes.

Wireless vs. Fiber: A Risky Neutrality

In line with EU state aid rules, the fund allows operators to use wireless technology instead of fiber optics. While this offers flexibility, it introduces technical risks: wireless networks can degrade over time and struggle with congestion, weather, and physical barriers-often performing worse than the copper-wire systems the EU plans to phase out. The looming Digital Networks Act will force Italy to switch off copper by 2035, potentially leaving some areas with only aging wireless infrastructure and no fiber in sight.

Race Against the Clock

The deadline pressure is immense. Bidders had less than a month to submit detailed, address-by-address technical and financial plans. The entire rollout must finish within just over four years-a tall order given Italy’s history of missed deadlines and project overruns. Previous broadband initiatives, despite strict EU recovery fund conditions, failed to keep pace, raising fears that even a well-designed plan may falter in execution.

Conclusion: Lessons Unlearned?

Italy’s new connectivity push boasts better design and stricter oversight, but the ghosts of past failures linger. Unless the government finds the will to hold laggards accountable and adapt swiftly when problems arise, the risk is clear: another round of broken promises, with millions still waiting for the high-speed future they were told was just around the corner.

WIKICROOK

• Ultra: Ultra in cybersecurity means ultra-low latency systems, enabling real-time threat detection and response for secure, seamless digital transactions.
• Fiber optics: Fiber optics are cables made of glass or plastic fibers that transmit data as light pulses, enabling fast, secure, and reliable communication.
• Technological neutrality: Technological neutrality means policies do not mandate specific technologies, letting organizations use any solution that meets required security or performance standards.
• PNRR: PNRR is Italy’s plan for EU recovery funds, focusing on digitalization, cybersecurity, and resilience to modernize the nation’s infrastructure and services.
• Clawback: Clawback is a contractual tool used to recover excess profits from publicly funded projects, ensuring compliance and preventing misuse of public funds.