Infrastructure

Closing Italy’s digital divide through modern broadband infrastructure

Supporting the rollout of high-speed broadband infrastructure to connect communities, enable economic growth, and deliver long-term social and financial outcomes in Italy

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SectorInfrastructure
Sub-sectorDigital infrastructure
LocationItaly

Opportunity

Demand for reliable high-speed broadband across Italy has accelerated, driven by increasing digital adoption, economic modernisation and the need for more connected communities. This has brought into focus longstanding gaps in national infrastructure and disparities in access.1

In 2021, government reforms sought to address a long-standing digital divide between Italy and its European peers. The European Union’s Digital Compass 2030 strategy set ambitious targets, including universal access to fixed ultra-fast broadband of at least 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) for all households and 5G coverage across populated areas by 2030.

In response, the Italian government launched the BUL Project and Italia 1 Giga Plan, targeting nationwide connection speeds of at least 1 Gbps download and 200 megabits per second (Mbps) upload by 2026.

Approach

In December 2021, Macquarie Asset Management-managed funds acquired a 40 per cent interest in Open Fiber.2

Over the investment period, Macquarie has been supporting the expansion of reliable, ultra-fast broadband to households and businesses nationwide, with a particular focus on underserved and rural communities.

Alongside Italian state-owned investor CDP Equity, Macquarie has been working at the board level to align shareholders and management on both financial and non-financial outcomes. This partnership approach ensures national ownership is retained of a strategically important asset while supporting long-term value creation.

Outcome

Open Fiber has grown into Italy’s largest wholesale-only fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network operator, with infrastructure spanning more than 162,700 kilometres and serving over 20 million households nationwide.3

As of June 2026, its network extends across more than 240 medium and large-sized cities, delivering transmission speeds of up to 10 Gbps, and completed coverage across over 6,000 municipalities in both urban and non-urban areas.4

By accelerating the rollout of open-access, high-capacity broadband, Open Fiber is supporting Italy’s connectivity ambitions and communities to better participate in the digital economy by enabling individuals and businesses to scale and adopt advanced technologies that improve productivity.

The network is also expanding access to essential digital services such as education, healthcare and public administration, particularly in underserved communities.5

Home, Residence, Dwelling, asset

20+

million households connected

copper wiring, electrical cables, copper conductors, wire

#1

Largest wholesale fibre-to-the-home network operator in Italy

Geographic Globe 1, worldwide, global, international, planet, earth, terrestrial, spherical, geographical, mapping, universal, world

240

medium and large-sized cities and 6,000 rural and suburban municipalities reached

Infrastructure Construction, Building, Development, Civil engineering

162,700+

kilometres of infrastructure constructed

We are proud that Open Fiber has made significant progress in expanding high-speed connectivity across Italy, helping to bridge the digital divide and support more inclusive economic growth. Through our partnership, we are contributing to the delivery of critical infrastructure that enables communities, businesses and regions to participate more fully in the digital economy.”

Gianluca Ricci
Division Director
Macquarie Asset Management

  1. Digital connectivity in Italy, European Commission, June 2026
  2. Macquarie finalises agreement to acquire 40% of Open Fiber, Macquarie Newsroom, August 2021
  3. 2025 Sustainability Report, Open Fiber, December 2025
  4. Our Mission, Open Fiber, June 2026 
  5. FTTH: switch-on can no longer be postponed for the country’s economic and social growth, Open Fiber, February 2026

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