In the last few days, the Municipal Council has approved the Memorandum of Understanding, between the Lecce Municipality and Fastweb S.p.A., for the extension and implementation of the Wi-Fi networks in the municipal area, also through integration with the already existing city networks. The areas involved in the current protocol are the historical downtown (Piazza Sant'Oronzo, Via F. D'Aragona, via dei Perroni, Porta San Biagio, Piazza Duomo, via Libertini and Porta Rudiae) and the area of Via Trinchese and Piazza G. Mazzini.
The protocol states that, in the areas where Fastweb will have access to municipal properties or infrastructures supporting the development of the networks, the company will also evaluate, with the Municipality, the possibility of offering to the citizens of these areas free Wi-Fi Internet service through the network that Fastweb will build and connect with "Lecce Wireless" also providing provide authentication of the free-Wi-FI recipients. Fastweb will be directly managing the infrastructure that they build in order to provide the Wi-Fi services based on this Agreement.
"This Memorandum of Understanding with Fastweb - declares the Deputy Mayor and Councillor of Innovation Alessandro Delli Noci - will enable us to extend and enhance the Wi-Fi network of the city and improve the Lecce wireless band that so far has not met expectations. The executive design includes the installation of up to 350 new hotspots in the city, primarily in the most peripheral areas, in addition to the already existing 100 hotspots, and Wi-Fi coverage of three tourist areas. Our plan is to improve the connection in the downtown area and to allow, for example, tourists to download the existing tourist apps and visit for free and more easily the artistic sites of our city, as well as to enhance the internet connection in the peripheral areas in order to reduce to the maximum extent the digital divide.
"We are very pleased to cooperate with the Lecce Municipality in this ambitious project which will provide free access to an advanced connectivity platform from places in the city with the highest symbolic value - stated Sergio Scalpelli, Director of External and Institutional Relations of Fastweb – With the Fastweb Wi-Fi infrastructure that we are building and thanks to the vision demonstrated by the Municipal Administration, we will be able to offer a service of excellence to the community and to create the foundation for future smart-city and IoT projects that will transform Lecce into a cutting-edge digital eco-system".
A work group, composed of technicians from the Lecce Municipality and Fastweb S.p.A., will be monitoring the application phases of the protocol, will assess and approve the technical projects, will verify the implementation progress of the Wi-Fi network as well as the offer of services also related to specific needs of the Municipal Administration.