The association of proximity operators discussed during its stop in Bergamo the opportunities of the PNRR in bringing equality to the telecom market and reducing the country's digital divide, as well as how to bring balance and transparency in the granting of public funding.
BERGAMO, 5 APRIL 2022
A push towards change in the telecommunications market. This is the mission of Assoprovider, the association of proximity operators with about 300 member companies, which gathered last weekend at Bergamo at the APBG22 event.
Many topics were discussed, from New Telecommunications Code, opportunities and risks of the PNRR, to the tax credit, to the infrastructures that some members of the organization are building, to make small and medium Internet providers autonomous.
TLC, a market in transformation
The New Telecommunications Code, with the adjustment of costs for licensed point-to-point frequencies, has finally completed one of the association's main battles to bring greater equity to the market, benefiting small and medium-sized entrepreneurs:
"The New Telecommunications Code shows that changes in the sector are possible. The reduction of contributions for the purchase of point-to-point frequencies comes at a decisive moment in which there is increased excitement and the number of entrepreneurs who want to produce digital in Italy, also seizing the opportunity of the PNRR," explained Dino Bortolotto, president of the association.
Precisely to help municipalities understand the New Code and acquire the necessary knowledge to work on bridging the digital divide, the book was presented during the event. "European Communications Code – Handbook for Municipalities" (of Alfredo Pansini, Maurizio di Cesare, with a foreword by the Assoprovider Vice President, Gian Battista Frontera, edited by Consulservice).
On the PNRR front, Assoprovider reiterates that it can only be an opportunity if there is equality in the granting of public funding between small and medium operators and the large players in the telecommunications sector:
«Competition must be on equal terms. Small and medium operators must receive support because they are the ones with business models that help citizens and companies take advantage of the opportunities of the Internet in white areas, where the market fails. They are the closest to the needs of the territories, understanding their challenges and opportunities.», emphasized Bortolotto.
The PNRR was also mentioned in the speech by Matteo Fici, treasurer and one of the founders of the association. Fici shared the experience of some members who, using the available funds, participated in thirty calls for proposals for the digitalization of villages.
Infrastructure, opportunities and upcoming challenges
Over the years, Assoprovider has joined forces to create new opportunities in the telecommunications market. These opportunities were discussed in Bergamo, where new projects involving the association were presented. We refer, for example, to "The Towers of Assoprovider", project for the construction or modernization of network infrastructures, which will be made available to members operating in uncovered areas (project presented by councilor Marco Liss and entrepreneur Diego Pol).
Finance was also discussed, with the intervention of consultant Roberto Iannaccone, who presented the funding opportunities through tax credit and Industry/Enterprise 4.0 and updated the audience on therequest for a ruling from the Revenue Agency, submitted by Assoprovider, to request eligibility for the measures of certain goods and solutions for use in telecommunications.
«The objectives are to enable small and medium entrepreneurs to have the necessary tools and finance to work in areas suffering from the limitations of the digital divide. The association has already made significant progress along this path, with many objectives achieved over the years, such as the liberalization of Spid. These are social and cultural battles, before being legal ones, aimed at granting rights to citizens who currently see them denied.», he emphasized Fulvio Sarzana, lawyer, expert in telecommunications law, who supports Assoprovider in its legal battles.
«We are working to expand the association's prospects. The key to creating innovation is to forge synergies with other companies investing in the Internet, meet them at events like this, and understand how we can collaborate to offer more quality services to citizens.», he explained Antonella Oliviero, member of the board of directors of Assoprovider.
During the event, the association also highlighted the dangers of entrusting the State cloud to foreign vendors in the Cloud PA project, with the intervention of board member Paolo Di Francesco.
«Help us help you, is our slogan and our invitation to work together," he concluded Marcello Cama, head of communication and advanced projects of the association, which has invited the more than two thousand companies with ministerial authorizations to join in order to increase the "impact force" by Assoprovider, to activate laws and regulations that are more respectful of local communities and "Proximity Operators ©"