The ANNOTICO Report

Italy is in third place in the EU for growth in broadband connections with
an increase of 755 per cent in the past three year period!!!
France activated 3.13 million connections, 2.39 million in Great Britain
and 2.29 million in Italy.

During that three year period, Italy has promoted demand by providing
bonuses for new connections for families and companies
in the sum of 87 million euro.

300 million euro has already been allocated for the 'Southern Initiative'.
50  million of this sum will go infrastructures for the digital highway,
while a further 150 million euro are to be used for the creation of content
and services.

Italy On Line
Special service by AGI
On behalf of the Italian Prime Minister's office
May 7, 2005

(AGI) - Ischia, Italy- Wireless broadband is soon to reach the small
townships in the depressed areas of Italy, especially in the South. This
specific Government initiative was announced by Lucio Stanca, Innovation
Minister, at the Siemens conference in Ischia. This initiative involves the
new Wi-Fi and WiMax technologies.

Stanca said: "Greater use of broadband in more areas of Italy is part of
the Government's competition strategy for the development of the Italian
system. Even though telecommunications have been privatized, it is still
the role of the Government to see that the whole of Italy is covered by
broadband and that the technological approach is neutral.

In this regard, Cipe has already allocated 300 million euro to cover the
Soputh of Italy with broadband. Fifty million of this sum will go to
Infratel Spa for the realization of infrastructures for the digital highway
while a further 150 million euro are destined to Sviluppo Italia Spa for
the creation of content and services.

The Government has promoted demand by providing bonuses for new connections
for families and companies (87 million euro in the past three year period)
and this has brought Italy to third place in the EU for growth in broadband
connections with an increase of 755 per cent against July, 2002. In 2004,
France activated 3.13 million connections, 2.39 million in Great Britain
and 2.29 million in Italy". (AGI) .

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