• Italy is testing the use of starlink’s satellites to offer internet connection domestically.
  • Italy is pursuing broader plan of providing the fixed-line internet speed ensuring the homes and businesses by 2026.

What happen

Italy is preparing to test the use of satellites produced by Elon Musk’s Starlink domestically. The implementation of the starlink internet will test a space-based service for areas without terrestrial infrastructure, said the Prime Minister’s Office Alessio Butti in an interview with Il Sole 24 Ore daily in Lake Como.

Starlink provides satellite-based internet connectivity to most urbanized areas and underserved areas. Starlink had offered satellite internet services in Italy and has more than 50,000 customers in the country, said source. The country is pursuing a broader plan, part of the European Union post-pandemic recovery programme, to ensure homes and businesses across Italy have access to fixed-line internet speeds of at least 1 Gigabit per second by 2026.

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Why it’s important

Italy hopes to meet its 2026 gigabit-speed objective with Starlink’s assistance. Italy is likely to gather input from pilot testing before expanding satellite services. It emphasis on satellite technology comes as Italy seeks alternatives to compensate for delays in fiber optic deployments, which hampered the country’s internet expansion plans.

Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency internet via a network of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The satellite pilot supports “Italy at 1 Giga” digital infrastructure target. The accomplishment of the goal will guarantee that all country have welcomes the digital revolution. Starlink offer consistent service in difficult-to-reach locations makes it a key asset in national infrastructure initiatives in Italy. With the 2026 goal, Italy’s deployment of satellite internet technologies is in need. This collaboration with Starlink has the potential to significantly reduce the digital gap and satisfy the country’s long-term connectivity objectives.