Fibre optics: Pitigliano sets an example as a ‘digital village’ for small municipalities
Open Fiber and ENEA present the results of the 2023–2026 pilot project: fifteen applications, ranging from public lighting to seismic monitoring, and a method that can also be replicated in a collaborative setting
A fibre-optic cable which, as well as transmitting data, records ground vibrations. And a platform that provides the local council with a comprehensive map of its public lighting infrastructure, complete with performance indicators to help decide where action is needed. These are two of the fifteen applications developed in Pitigliano, in the Grosseto area, as part of the ‘Open-air laboratory for the development of sustainable digital villages 2023–2026’ project.
The results were presented in Rome by Open Fiber and Enea. The initiative was launched in July 2023 in partnership with the local council, with scientific support from the INGV and the Smarter Research Centre at the University of Insubria, and has now developed into a model that is open to other small local councils.
The network as the basis for services
The underlying idea is to use the network as a platform for services. “The presence of a fibre-optic infrastructure is the foundation for offering those living in small towns the same opportunities available in cities,” says Open Fiber’s chief executive, Giuseppe Gola. Digital technology, he notes, enables businesses in villages to reach new markets, makes services more accessible and allows people to work and study without leaving their local area.
A model for other local authorities
In Pitigliano, Gola adds, Open Fiber has worked with Enea and the local council “to turn these possibilities into applications tailored to the community’s needs”. The next step is to make them available to other local authorities, “so that investment in the network becomes a resource for regional development”.
The passages
The fibre-optic network to the home was built by Open Fiber as a concessionaire of Infratel Italia, and two platforms operate on top of it. V-Era, developed by Open Fiber, aggregates local information to support municipal services, ranging from energy efficiency to tourist accommodation. Pell, developed by Enea, maps public lighting and provides ‘a static and dynamic snapshot’ of it, complete with KPIs on the performance of the systems.
