TIM, Italy's biggest operator, has said accelerating fiber-optic rollout means almost two thirds (65%) of families living in so-called "white areas" now have access to ultra-broadband.
The company says they have provided fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) coverage for over 2,000 municipalities in rural or sparsely populated areas in around five months.
Overall, more than 86% of households are covered by TIM's optical fiber network – with a target of 90% by December 2020 – or 5,000 more municipalities.
A key driver has been increased demand for connectivity due to COVID-19, and the huge increase in people working and learning from home.
All this translates to around 3 million people and businesses who can now access ultra-broadband services of up to 200 Mbit/s via 11,000 roadside cabinets.