Davide Campisi is a Sicilian proximity operator covering the Madonie, the province of Palermo, and Messina. He shares his story and offers advice to entrepreneurs aspiring to become Internet service providers.

"The greatest satisfaction of my work as a proximity operator? Seeing the faces of entrepreneurs in small rural communities when we provide them with Internet connection. To their eyes, we are like our ancestors who brought electricity to the villages or, more recently, television," says Davide Campisi to Assoprovider. 

Siciliano, 39 years old, launched NewMediaWeb in 2003, a computer store that he later transformed, ten years later, into a local operator: it is called BluWifi.

"We were initially installers for other companies. Then we wanted to transform our company and offer connectivity in places where it was not available. Today we cover all of the Madonie, the province of Palermo, and we are also in Messina," says Campisi, who has recently become a new member of Assoprovider.

The meeting with Assoprovider

Computer engineer, he chose to join the Association of Proximity Operators, and he tells us why:  

"I had known about the association for a long time, but I thought I was too small to join. Then I met one of the members who told me about the benefits of being part of the association even for companies like mine. I did it because in this sector there is often a lack of information to access incentives and other opportunities and to have a dialogue with other colleagues," continues Campisi.

Two tips to become a provider

Becoming a proximity operator is an obstacle course. One must be skilled at finding customers to reach break-even and then invest to expand the network, better structure, and provide new services:

"Surely you can only succeed by being part of a group, tackling the typical issues of the sector together with others. If I had to start alone today, I wouldn't make it," emphasizes Campisi. 

Furthermore, in a constantly changing sector, there are two other best practices that the entrepreneur recommends following: 

"You must grow together with the client, otherwise you risk never making the leap in quality. To succeed, you must invest in your future. Then you must constantly engage with others and finally analyze market needs. These three levers are what will allow you to make a difference."