AMGA-FASTWEB GROUP: Genoa Cabling Project moves ahead

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Press release 05/02/2001
Work is proceeding rapidly on the FastWeb cabling project of Genoa to extend delivery of revolutionary broadband services for integrated voice, data and video transmission and high-speed Internet access to users in the area. After four months of work, approximately 60 km of infrastructure have been laid, using the existing subsoil power and gas networks and employing non-invasive technologies to avoid disruption. Cabling will rise to 250 km by the end of June 2001, six months ahead of schedule.

AMGA'S subsidiary SasterNet lays approximately 60 km of subsoil infrastructures in four months,with 250 km planned by the end of June 2001, six months ahead of schedule
FastWeb Mediterranea to begin offering broadband telecommunications services for business customers in February 2001 and for residential customers in March 2001

Genoa, 5 February 2001. First Milan, now Genoa. Work is proceeding rapidly on the Amga and FastWeb cabling project - through the SasterNet and FastWeb Mediterranea operating companies formed in June last year - to extend delivery of revolutionary broadband services for integrated voice, data and video transmission and high-speed Internet access to users in the Genoa area.

To date, after four months of work, SasterNet has laid approximately 60 km of infrastructures, using the existing subsoil power and gas networks and employing non-invasive technologies to avoid disruption. Cabling will rise to 250 km by the end of June 2001, six months ahead of schedule.

Specifically, work has focused on the backbone from Porto Antico to Palazzo Ducale, to permit the necessary G8 links, and on the city area, with the creation of a westward loop from the city centre. The project provides for 14 Genoa districts to be wired in 2001 - the first areas will be ready in the spring - and for coverage of the entire city on completion of the project.

During 2000, SasterNet invested more than 10 billion lire, a sum that will rise to 40 million by the end of the project. It already has plans for a further outlay of more than 13 billion lire to implement transport networks for rental to other operators in Genoa and Grosseto.

In the meantime, recruitment has been continuing at FastWeb Mediterranea, which is staffed by high-profile professionals offering expertise in the new technologies. This will enable the company to begin marketing its broadband services for business customers in February 2001 and for residential users in March 2001.

With the first stretches of network now in place, a high-speed link has been set up between the two sites of Genoa's University Library, FastWeb Mediterranea's first customer.

Over the next few months, like users in Milan, Genoa's business and residential communities will have access to an alternative communication facility to the copper wires of Italy's former monopoly operator. The fibre optic cabling FastWeb is laying across Italy supports all existing communication devices in homes and offices and provides hugely superior performance at extremely competitive prices.