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Broadband in Italy: an overview

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Author Info
Emanuela Ciapanna () (Banca d'Italia)
Daniele Sabbatini () (Banca d'Italia)

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Abstract

High-speed Internet, or broadband, access is an essential infrastructure that has been proven to stimulate competition, productivity and growth and it is considered the engine of the so called knowledge-information economy. In this paper, we first provide a technical survey of the standard broadband technologies (copper wire, optical fiber and Wi-Fi), then based on Eurostat and OECD data, we conduct an analysis regarding the diffusion and average available quality of broadband internet access in Italy. We find that Italy is behind compared to the other OECD countries in both broadband penetration rate and average available speed. The main determinants of this delay are the scarce diffusion of PCs and the persistently low ICT alphabetization of the Italian population, the geographical and density characteristics of the country as well as strategic factors (market structure and bureaucratic constraints). Finally, we examine the main regulations and policy instruments that have been established to foster broadband diffusion and we provide policy indications aimed at improving average quality and reducing digital-divide.

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File URL: http://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/econo/quest_ecofin_2/qef_34/QEF_34.pdf
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Bank of Italy, Economic Research Department in its series Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) with number 34.

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Date of creation: Oct 2008
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Handle: RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_34_08

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Postal: Via Nazionale, 91 - 00184 Roma
Web page: http://www.bancaditalia.it
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Related research
Keywords: broadband; digital divide; unbundling local loop; shared access; bitstream;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
D42 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure and Pricing - - - Monopoly
D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure and Pricing - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
K21 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Antitrust Law
K23 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Regulated Industries and Administrative Law
L4 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies
L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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