The Open Fiber wholesale-only venture of Italian utility Enel and state lender CDP announced the launch of a 6-month trial of FTTH services in 4 digital divide localities ahead of the large-scale commercialisation of the network. Testing will be held in Fino Mornasco (Como), Anguillara Sabazia (Rome), Campagnano di Roma (Rome) and San Giovanni La Punta (Catania), with telecommunications operators able to use the FTTH network free of charge as Open Fiber develops the corresponding supply and management processes.
The company added that it has now opened over 900 FTTH construction sites in digital divide localities all over Italy, up from 700 last month and rising to 1,000 by the end of the year. All the localities correspond to so-called cluster areas C and D of the government's tenders to build and operate a national high-speed broadband network throughout the country. A total of 13.8 million people living in 9.3 million homes plus over 500,000 public buildings and offices will eventually be connected to the network, said Open Fiber.