Italy: EIB, FiberCop sign €1bn deal to accelerate ultrafast broadband
May 18, 2026
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a financing package of up to €1 billion for FiberCop, a company that digital infrastructure in Italy, to expand and modernise the national ultrafast broadband network.
An initial tranche of €500 million was signed in Rome by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and the Chairman and CEO of FiberCop Massimo Sarmi. The financing is covered by a guarantee from InvestEU, the European Union’s investment programme, through which the EIB Group has already invested more than €6 billion in Italy.
“Investing in modern, high-capacity digital networks will strengthen the country’s competitiveness, support growth and ensure equal opportunities for citizens and businesses to access connectivity. With this funding, we aim to reduce the digital divide, foster technological innovation and meet the digitalisation targets of Italy and the European Union,” commented EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti.
This transaction backs FiberCop in its mission to expand its Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) fibre optic grid, connecting an additional 5.8 million property units in Italy, to reach the announced target of 20.3 million property units by the end of 2027, so helping to significantly reduce the digital divide in the country. Altogether, some 40 per cent of the investments will be made in regions included in the special economic zone (SEZ) for southern Italy, with the aim of improving access to connectivity in areas where the infrastructure gap is even wider.
“This initial EIB loan, less than two years after FiberCop was set up, provides firm recognition of the soundness of our industrial project. Accessing finance from a high-profile institution like the EIB confirms the credibility of FiberCop’s strategy and demonstrates its unique position and importance in Europe. The operation strengthens our role as a key infrastructure provider and our remit to enable the country’s digital development. We act as a neutral platform, with a model that ensures fair and sustainable access conditions for all operators, making the system more competitive and helping to achieve Italy’s growth and cohesion objectives,” added Chairman and CEO of FiberCop Massimo Sarmi.
This EIB financing operation will enable FiberCop to continue developing modern, advanced and neutral FTTH fibre infrastructure by offering telecoms operators speeds of up to 10 Gbps in areas that currently lack very high-capacity services.
This operation is part of Italy’s Ultrafast Broadband Strategy and contributes directly to achieving the country’s gigabit connectivity targets.