The future of Italy is inextricably linked to a process of digitalisation in which optical fibre plays a key role, along with trenchless technologies”. Carlo Scarlata, Chief Commercial Officer at Prysmian Italia
The Industry 4.0 Italian initiative took centre stage at the ‘Objective 2025: Italian Industry Allied for the Digital Development of the Country’ conference, organised in Milan by Prysmian Group and the Italian Association for Trenchless Technology (IATT). The industry’s main players, along with representatives of trade, industry, utilities, and the Public Administration, attended the event.
Industry 4.0 is seen as a milestone for the industrial and service sectors, in addition to being a pillar for revamping the Italian economy, according to an ambitious plan launched by the Rome government in September 2016. “The future of Italy is inextricably linked to a process of digitalisation in which optical fibre plays a key role, along with trenchless technologies,” commented Carlo Scarlata, Chief Commercial Officer at Prysmian Cavi e Sistemi Italia. “As Italy’s sole optical fibre producer, we are on the frontline of investment and research, and are deploying all of our technologies and expertise to the field”.
The common goal is to provide Italy with access to a series of cutting-edge services based on integrated systems that offer: increased data volume; calculation capacity and connectivity (which in turn will translate into big data); open data and cloud computing; the creation of analytics to derive value from the data collected; the rise of new forms of man-machine interaction and augmented reality, and, finally, the development and improvement of the transfer of digital instructions to the real world, such as advanced robotics, Internet of Things solutions and 3D printers.
$5.7 million for the expansion and modernisation of Sorocaba plant
Prysmian Group has signed a contract with PRODEPA, the state-owned telco Telebràs, and the development agency of Pará (Brazil), to deploy optical cables for a broadband project in the Amazon region.
The project, known as Xingu Conectado, will connect 12 municipalities and is expected to benefit around 600,000 people with a 10Gbps capacity. Prysmian will supply 400 km of optical cables produced in the plant of Sorocaba, São Paulo, with delivery expected to be completed in September.
Sorocaba is fast becoming the centre for production of fibre optics in South America; the Group has just announced the investment of $5.7 million for the expansion and modernisation of its fibre optic plant.
Prysmian’s intention is twofold. To expand production capacity to meet the growing demand for fibre optic infrastructure and optical cables, especially in regions away from the country’s large urban centres. And also to expand presence throughout the market, with special attention being given to the growing importance of small and medium-sized regional broadband internet providers.