M2M/IoT and 5G advances in Italy are driving the transformation of the country’s digital landscape. Major carriers such as TIM, Vodafone, and WINDTRE are actively deploying 5G, rapidly expanding coverage in major cities. This lays the foundation for high-speed connectivity and fosters innovation across industrial sectors. Italy is adopting her M2M/IoT technology in various sectors such as smart cities, agriculture, and industry. MNOs’ smart city initiatives, such as TIM Urban Genius, are enhancing traffic flow and waste management. Vodafone provides energy-efficient solutions for smart buildings, and WindTre provides precision agriculture solutions that improve crop yields.
Although adoption rates are increasing, several challenges are hindering national coverage and IoT access. These challenges include rural infrastructure gaps, regulatory complexity, and uneven market environments. To address these issues, the European Commission approved in May 2021 the “Italian UltraBroadband Strategy for a Gigabit Society”. The European Commission has allocated $7.3 billion to provide gigabit connectivity across the country by 2026. In June 2022, the Italian government signed a contract with the consortium. TIM and Vodafone INWIT aim to deploy open access 5G networks in rural areas by June 2026.
