Digital: I-Com report, Italy increases its fixed digital supply
Rome - Italy increases its fixed digital supply, with a 28.4% increase in coverage (from 43.9% in 2015 to 72.3 in 2016), reducing the gap with the European average by 3.7 percent. The demand side, however, is still worryingly low, and any sign of improvement is only timid. This is the picture emerging from the Institute for Competitiveness (I-Com) report 'Digital Italy. Looking for a demand shock', presented in Rome by the think tank headed by economist Stefano da Empoli. In its first section, the I-Com report on New Generation Networks and Services analyses digital developments in Europe, with particular reference to Italy. The second section deals with the audio-visual market. A market that "after many years of decline, has recorded clear growth, with sales over 8 billion euros", explained the director of I-Com's Media Observatory, Bruno Zambardino. According to the report on New Generation Networks and Services, 2016 fiber subscriptions were still low, at 3% of total broadband subscriptions, and well below the EU average (-16.7%). Similarly, e-commerce is still not widespread (we are the second worst performing country in Europe for online purchases). Corporate use of social media is also below the European average (only 56% of Italy's large enterprises use them, 44% of medium sized and 36% of small companies, compared to 63%, 50% and 40%, respectively, in Europe). As for Internet banking, Italy scores 29% compared to a 49% European average. On the issue of cybersecurity, the report shows that only 43% of Italian manufacturers has a clear strategy against hackers. However, compared to last year, the number of city administrations reached by new generation networks has grown, reaching a national total of 3,524 municipalities (43.8%). The report also highlighted that 9 in 10 major cities (province capitals) have more than one ultra broadband supplier, and in 79% of them, residents can choose among at least three ultra broadband providers. As for the mobile sector and 4G network development, population coverage exceeds 95% in all regions except for Sardinia, Molise and Basilicata, where coverage reached 93.5%, 93% and 92.5% of the population, respectively.