Convergence Italian style: how is the telecommunications market changing?

Next Generation Networks (NGN) are true information highways, along which great amounts of information can flow. Their technological neutrality allows them to offer services that are independent of current networks. This novelty presents an opportunity to increase Italy’s competitiveness: to take advantage of it, the country must make swift and substantial investments – both private and public – as well as important political and legal decisions. In particular, Italy will have to resolve some sticky problems, building new infrastructure and splitting up networks. Old and new operators, working under conditions of strong competition and straightforward laws, will have to respond to the market. They will have to meet the consumer’s need for highly interactive content and services, taking into account social dynamics and a demand for both entertainment and information, not to mention working business models.