News

Where innovation meets nature: FiberCop’s journey in the Valli Cupe

17 December 2025

FiberCop is delivering a strategic infrastructure project in the Valli Cupe, a protected natural area at the foothills of the Sila mountain range in southern Italy, bringing ultra-broadband connectivity to an area characterised by a complex natural landscape. The initiative forms part of the network expansion envisaged under the Italia 1 Giga Plan and confirms the company’s commitment to promoting access to digital services in the less well-served areas of Calabria.

“Through the PNRR [the EU post-Covid economic recovery plan], more than 270,000 premises have already been connected across the region, with works in 90% of municipalities. Here, challenging objectives have been turned into concrete opportunities for progress, making this area a true symbol of the success of the Italia 1G tender.”
Matteo Aiello, Head of the Field Operations Line in Calabria

Within the Reserve, network design requires in-depth analysis and the adoption of solutions specifically designed to integrate with the surrounding environment. Most of the infrastructure must be laid underground in order to minimise visual impact. Over one hundred technicians and installers, coordinated by the FiberCop Calabria team, are working in a setting marked by strict environmental constraints and demanding operating conditions.

With the completion of coverage in the municipalities of the Valli Cupe, a new fibre optic line of around 20 km will be built as far as Sila Piccola, following the provincial road and the surrounding hills, reaching remote corners inhabited by fewer than ten people. The line will make it possible to reach small settlements and to extend coverage beyond what was originally envisaged under the tender, through works supported by environmental monitoring and georadar surveys.

“A big thank you to FiberCop for choosing to invest in inland areas, which often face significant challenges. I am confident that this project will help bring urban centres closer to smaller communities."
Carmine Capellupo, mayor of Sersale

The new infrastructure delivers widespread benefits for the area. It supports more structured tourism through digital tools such as trekking apps, interactive guides and augmented reality services, and strengthens environmental protection by enabling the installation of video surveillance systems to help prevent fires, combat illegal waste dumping and monitor air, water and wildlife.

Reliable connectivity also underpins economic development, creating new opportunities for tourism businesses, accommodation providers and local businesses, which can operate remotely, promote their services or launch e-commerce initiatives. The use of optical fibre also contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions, combining technological innovation with environmental responsibility.

Thanks to FiberCop’s direct investments and the Italia 1 Giga Plan, Calabria is progressing along its path to infrastructure modernisation. The Valli Cupe project shows how an area of outstanding natural value can embrace advanced solutions, becoming an example of thoughtful and sustainable development.