---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Joly MacFie <joly@punkcast.com> Date: Sun, Feb 2, 2014 at 10:34 PM Subject: [Internet Policy] Fwd: Italian Prime Minister Letta: "Investing in broadband penetration is the greatest priority of the country ..." To: "internetpolicy@elists.isoc.org" <InternetPolicy@elists.isoc.org> Just a FYI forward from cybertelecom-l. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Scott Marcus <S.Marcus@wik.org> Date: Sun, Feb 2, 2014 at 7:08 AM Subject: [Cybertelecom-l] Italian Prime Minister Letta: "Investing in broadband penetration is the greatest priority of the country ..." To: Cybertelecom <cybertelecom-l@googlegroups.com> Dear All: The report of our little expert team to Prime Minister Letta is now available on the Italian government's web site (in English!): http://www.governo.it/backoffice/allegati/74621-9208.pdf There are long-overdue signs of progress over the past year, but Italy clearly has deficits in regard to broadband. Needless to say, it was a great honour to be invited to serve. Press coverage seems to be favourable. See for instance: http://www.corriere.it/economia/14_gennaio_30/3-anni-banda-larga-1-italiano-... <https://mail.wik.org:4440/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx> There is some video online now ... even if you do not speak Italian, it is useful for picking up the "atmospherics". For me, it is remarkable that a head of state of a substantial country would devote an entire Palazzo Chigi press conference to the subject of broadband, and moreover would state that "Investing in broadband penetration is the greatest priority of the country ..." http://lastampa.it/2014/01/30/multimedia/italia/agenda-digitale-ecco-il-pian... <https://mail.wik.org:4440/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx> Cheers, Scott ===========================

From the Executive Summary:

There are grounds for cautious optimism regarding the deployment and adoption of ultrafast broadband in Italy. Network operators in Italy have concrete plans to cover roughly 50% of the Italian population with fast broadband based on FTTCab/VDSL2 technology between now and roughly 2017. In contrast to the recent past, these plans are credible, and deployment is demonstrably moving forward. Given Italy's favourable characteristics (i.e. a network structure with short sub-loop lengths), these lines will be able to deliver well in excess of the 30 Mbps required by the second of the DAE broadband objectives. There are risks that the plans will not be carried through to completion. There are serious operational and regulatory challenges. Nonetheless, we consider the plans to be credible overall. In and of themselves, these plans will not achieve the DAE Objectives. * There are no solid commitments to cover more than 50% of the population with fast or ultrafast broadband. * The current plans of the network operators do not address 100 Mbps service; with expected improvements in technology, however, it is likely achievable. * Even if most lines were able to provide 100 Mbps service (and bearing in mind that 50% penetration requires considerably more than 50% coverage), there are problems with consumer demand that would need to be addressed in order for the adoption target (DAE Objective 3) to be achieved. In the absence of committed, energetic and sustained attention by the Italian government, DAE goals will not be fully achieved. We therefore urge the Italian government to take proportionate, appropriate steps to deal with each of the gaps within the authority available to it, with due respect for the respective competencies and independence of the European Union and of Italian regulatory and competition authorities. The following would be appropriate: * Comprehensive analysis, planning and monitoring of the investment required and of investments made to achieve DAE broadband objectives, taking a balanced approach between fixed, mobile, fixed wireless, and even satellite resources, and also considering not only supply side factors but also the demand side. * Provision of sufficient additional funding to close coverage gaps, drawing on European Structural Funds and other sources, based on the results of the analysis, planning and monitoring function. Attention at regional level is warranted. Compatibility with European State Aid guidelines is required. * Measures to drive down deployment costs, including initiatives to enhance the radio spectrum and to enhance the efficiency of spectrum use; and promotion of infrastructure sharing, to the extent permissible under European State Aid and competition guidelines. * Measures to correct lagging demand for broadband services in Italy, including digital literacy programmes. Low consumption of audiovisual services is a concern that warrants detailed analysis. -- Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cybertelecom-l. -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Joly MacFie 218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast WWWhatsup NYC - http://wwwhatsup.com http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com VP (Admin) - ISOC-NY - http://isoc-ny.org -------------------------------------------------------------- - _______________________________________________ To manage your ISOC subscriptions or unsubscribe, please log into the ISOC Member Portal: https://portal.isoc.org/ Then choose Interests & Subscriptions from the My Account menu. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/