Italy pushes satellite‑based mobile coverage with 5G certification and Direct‑to‑Cell trial

The European Union has certified that Italy is a leader in 5G rollout, with coverage approaching 100% and fibre optics reaching 77.5% of the population. The certification follows a satellite‑connectivity experiment in Lombardy, funded with €4.5 million by the Department for Digital Transformation and carried out by Fastweb, Vodafone and Telespazio with support from the University of Pavia. The trial created 41 virtual villages to test multimodal connectivity that complements fibre.

Separately, Fastweb and Starlink have begun Italy’s first Direct‑to‑Cell test in the central Apennines. Using low‑orbit satellites at roughly 360 km altitude, the service lets regular 4G smartphones connect directly to the satellite when terrestrial networks are unavailable. The trial, which also involves Vodafone’s network, will assess SMS, map and messaging apps, but does not yet support voice calls or emergency numbers and is limited to authorised personnel.