Third Annual Report on Digital Nomadism in Italy
Prepared by Associazione Italiana Nomadi Digitali ETS in its role as an Observatory
Digitalisation is radically transforming individuals’ daily habits, opening up a world of new opportunities both in leisure and professional spheres.
The shift of most human activities to the web, while bringing countless benefits, also introduces a new range of risks—stemming both from cybercriminals and from problematic use of digital tools.
New digital technologies—most notably artificial intelligence—are beginning to enable increasingly seamless vertical and horizontal integration across the entire product value chain. One of the key enablers of this transformation is 5G.
The new communication standard allows operators to deliver ultra-high-capacity, low-latency wireless connectivity to a wide range of vertical industries, opening up significant opportunities for the emergence of new business models across all industrial sectors.
Mission Italy 5.0
The role of telecommunications in accelerating digital transformation and driving growth.
A robust infrastructure system is the cornerstone of a country’s technological, cultural, and social development.
This report analyses the current state of telecommunications, energy, and transport infrastructure in Italy. It also provides an overview—supported by a survey of leading industry operators—of the progress made over the past two years in streamlining authorization procedures, aimed at facilitating the deployment of networks and facilities and achieving the targets set by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr).
Technological advancements in both supply and demand have transformed telecommunications into a critical platform supporting the digital transformation of the national system.
5G, in particular, represents an extraordinary driver of development, upon which the competitiveness of individual countries increasingly depends.
To seize these growth opportunities and meet the connectivity targets set at both European and national levels, it is essential to accelerate network deployment by removing barriers—not only by streamlining authorization procedures, but also by revisiting regulations on electromagnetic limits, which significantly impact the design and implementation of mobile network infrastructure.
Why Telecom Operators Are Essential for the Country’s Recovery and Resilience
Raising awareness among public opinion and political-institutional decision-makers about the strategic importance of telecommunications networks for citizens and Italian society is the core objective of this project.
It aims to clearly highlight the decisive role of telecom operators within the broader context of the digital acceleration triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
What Does Digital Life Actually Mean for Citizens? What Are Their Expectations and Evaluations? These are the central questions of the second WINDTRE-Censis Report which, starting from the completed transition to digital life, examines whether and to what extent Italians are benefiting from digital opportunities in key areas of everyday life.
Internet for All and the Financial Sustainability of Telecom Operators in the Era of 5G and Artificial Intelligence
The 3rd Wind Tre-Censis Report analyzes and interprets distinct yet interconnected dimensions of digital life in the daily lives of Italian society: the types of connectivity used and their social significance for citizens, followed by the potential financing model to continue ensuring access to the Internet for all, without economic discrimination.
High-Performance Infrastructure as a Prerequisite for Digital Transformation
The full realization of digital transformation requires widespread availability of high-performance fixed and mobile infrastructure.
Although Italy still lags behind other European countries in terms of ultra-fast connections (>100 Mbps), in recent years the significant growth in coverage of at least 30 Mbps has enabled the country to surpass the European average. This positive trend has been driven primarily by substantial investments made by telecom operators, who between 2010 and 2020 invested €72 billion to enhance fixed and mobile ultra-broadband networks—despite a simultaneous and significant decline in sector revenues and margins.
Smart Cities and the Role of Technology in Urban Transformation
Technological advancements in recent decades have radically transformed the way citizens, businesses, and public administrations live and operate. In a world where everyday objects are becoming smart—interconnected and capable of interacting with their surroundings—the concept of the smart city has emerged. Although there is no universally accepted definition of a smart city, an analysis of interpretations provided by major public and private organizations worldwide reveals several common elements. A smart city must be able to leverage new digital technologies to optimize the use of its resources, enhance sustainability, and better respond to the needs of its inhabitants.
Digital Innovation as a Catalyst for Sustainability
This paper, produced by Istituto per la Competitività (I-Com) and Join Group, reviews the main pillars of sustainability policies and focuses on the contribution that digital innovation can make in accelerating their implementation—both at the macro level (society) and the micro level (businesses and individuals).
Thanks to the growing pervasiveness of ICT technologies, combined with a rethinking of business models and corporate strategies, it is possible to significantly shift behaviours and practices toward more sustainable patterns—enhancing, rather than hindering, economic growth and quality of life.
Communication Technologies as a Driver of Scientific, Economic, and Cultural Development
Communication tools have always been a fundamental element in the scientific, economic, and cultural development of human society. For this reason, a country’s competitiveness is also measured by the advancement of its telecommunications infrastructure. An analysis of the Italian landscape shows that 4G coverage has made rapid progress in recent years, reaching 99.6% of the population in 2021. According to a coverage analysis by EY (updated to September 2021), 5G has reached 95% of the Italian population and over 7,500 municipalities. This figure is confirmed by the 2022 DESI Index, which ranks Italy first in Europe for 5G coverage as a percentage of households (99.7%). This growth has occurred primarily through 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) technology. Data from Infratel, collected in 2021, show that approximately 7% of the territory is covered by Standalone 5G, while 72% is covered using DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) technology, which allows simultaneous use of 4G and 5G on the same frequency band.
The Strategic Value of the Telecommunications Sector for Italy’s Economic Growth
The telecommunications sector plays a vital role in the Italian economy. Beyond contributing to employment and national added value, it enables connections between individuals, supports the digital economy, and fosters business development. In essence, telecommunications serve as a cross-sector enabler of all economic activities. Given the sector’s relevance and strategic importance for Italy’s development, The European House – Ambrosetti, in collaboration with Wind Tre, has launched a research initiative to explore the value of telecommunications for the country’s growth and the competitiveness of its business ecosystem.
Digital Transformation and Incentives for Investing in High-Capacity Broadband Networks: Challenges and Prospects in the Italian Context
The evolution of the broadband communications sector in Italy has historically been hindered by various issues—ranging from the morphology of fixed networks to regulatory and legislative choices that have struggled to keep pace with the needs of the times.
Unfortunately, it must now be acknowledged that Italy’s infrastructure gap compared to major industrialized countries—particularly in relation to Very High Capacity Networks—is at risk of widening. Without corrective measures, telecom operators and, more broadly, the entire productive ecosystem may be unable to effectively support and drive digital transformation.