Italy is preparing to take a significant step toward solving its digital divide by testing Starlink in early 2025. The pilot project, which aims to address persistent delays in the rollout of high-speed broadband under the European Union-funded Recovery Plan, will Starlink’s satellite internet as a complementary solution to traditional fiber-optic networks.
Italy’s ambitious high-speed internet plan, supported by a €3.4 billion (C$5.08/US$3.6 billion) EU investment, aims to provide 1 gigabit-per-second download speeds to 3.4 million buildings across the country. However, progress has been slow. By mid-2024, state-backed fiber-optic firms Open Fiber and FiberCop have completed only a third of the cabling work, with much of the delay linked to the challenge of connecting 450,000 buildings in remote and sparsely populated areas.
With the June 2026 deadline looming, the Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is turning to Elon Musk’s Starlink to ensure timely completion of the broadband rollout.
Starlink currently has approximately 55,000 customers in Italy, according to Reuters. The pilot project, beginning in January, will test the feasibility of integrating satellite connectivity with Italy’s fiber-optic networks. Results are expected as early as March 2024.
However, challenges remain, as Starlink did not meet Italy’s gigabit-per-second speed requirement during the 2021 broadband tender process. The pilot project will determine whether the technology has since advanced to meet these demands.
The inclusion of Starlink in Italy’s broadband strategy has raised regulatory concerns from competitors. The telecom lobby group Asstel, representing local operators like Telecom Italia, Iliad, and Fastweb, is advocating for a level playing field. The group is calling for satellite broadband providers to adhere to the same data security and local storage regulations as traditional telcos.
