96 percent of the municipalities included in the ultra-broadband (Bul) plan, managed by Infratel and implemented by Open Fiber, are now served by the fast fiber optic internet network financed by the Sicilian Region. This is confirmed by the monitoring data conducted by the Department of Economy through the Regional Innovation Authority (Arit) on the interventions planned in 303 Sicilian municipalities using Po Fesr 2014/20 funds. The optical fiber installation sites have been completed in 293 Municipalities, of which 279 have already been tested by Infratel. Furthermore, in most of these centers the line is already marketed: there are thousands of families and businesses who now have their internet users served by high-speed FTTH and FWA lines. «We are approaching the conclusion of the Bul plan – comments the President of the Region, Renato Schifani – after having effectively laid the foundations for a widespread digital transformation throughout the Sicilian territory. The Region’s investment is helping to break down the gap between the most populous centers and the “white areas”, i.e. those portions of territory where it is not profitable for the market to build optical fibre. The Internet thus arrives where it risked never arriving, to the benefit of the entire social fabric of Sicily.” «In compliance with the objectives set out in the agreement between the Region and the Ministry of Business – adds the regional councilor for the Economy, Marco Falcone – we have achieved in Sicily the objective of 4,178 kilometers of new Bul lines for an expense which in total has 191 million euros committed. In the next few months we will complete the 307 kilometers of line still to be built in around ten remaining municipalities. In the meantime, the Schifani government will push for the necessary information for citizens, primarily involving local administrations, so that even in the most peripheral centres, currently served by optical fibre, residents are aware of the services available and the opportunities offered by ultra-broadband”.
