2 December 2003 Milan Lightwave Europe-- FastWeb, e.Biscom's telecom company, has begun installing a fiberoptic network in northeastern Italy that will cover the cities of Venice and Mestre and the lagoon islands.
The three-year project, which its part of e.Biscom's recently announced strategic plan, will cost 60 million euros and use a 150-km duct system in Venice that e.Biscom received from Telecom Italia when it bought Telecom Italia's Socrate's cable television assets. In addition to fiber-based access services, FastWeb will offer ADSL service including television over ADSL.
FastWeb expects to connect 40% of its customers using FTTx technology and 60% using ADSL. During the initial rollout in 2004, FastWeb will pass 80,000 potential customers. Both access technologies allow FastWeb to offer bundled voice, high-speed Internet access and television services.
FastWeb is targeting a wide-range of customers, including residential, large businesses in the heavy industry area of Marghera and cultural centers such Teatro La Fenice, which is to celebrate its re-opening, following its renovation after a devastating fire in 1996 with a week of high-profile concerts from December 14th to 21st. FastWeb's technology will allow the municipal authorities to "beam" the opening performance at La Fenice to the Ateneo Veneto, in the city center, and to the Cinema Corso in Mestre - offering Venetians the opportunity to watch five of the seven concerts organized for the opening.