FiberCop, the company managing Italy’s most extensive and far-reaching digital infrastructure, and UPI, the Union of Italian Provinces, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote an efficient and sustainable model for deploying fiber along provincial roads nationwide.

The agreement was signed by Massimo Sarmi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FiberCop, and Pasquale Gandolfi, President of UPI.

“This MoU is a concrete step towards a model of digital growth that brings together innovation, environmental protection and respect for local communities”, said Massimo Sarmi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FiberCop. “Working with UPI allows us to scale low-impact methods such as micro-trenching, speeding up the deployment of fiber networks while maximizing benefits for citizens and public authorities.”

The agreement is designed to encourage the use of innovative, low-impact excavation techniques that enable rapid, minimally invasive works with high safety standards, reducing time, costs and disruption for the public. Where traditional methods are used, collaboration with provinces will ensure their requirements are taken on board and improve the efficiency of road reinstatement, with safety and environmental stewardship front and center. Narrow trenching is one of the most effective solutions for expanding digital networks while safeguarding the environment and existing infrastructure.

“Provinces are assuming a central role in promoting local development. It is clear that access to technology is strategic for businesses, which need efficient, high-performance networks, for citizens, who must be guaranteed the right to connect, and for the digital transformation of public administration. This agreement with FiberCop will help local areas make progress on digital coverage while minimizing the impact on provincial roads. That is essential: it protects public assets, keeps traffic flowing and cuts the cost of road reinstatement, which until now has weighed heavily on local authority budgets”, said Pasquale Gandolfi, President of UPI.

The MoU also provides for sharing with provincial authorities the technical and regulatory guidance on innovative installation techniques, fostering common practices that streamline authorization processes and accelerate delivery. A central element of the agreement is the commitment to prioritizing, where possible, reuse of existing infrastructure, further reducing the use of public land and the footprint of works.