Italy Surpasses EU Average in 5G and Fiber Optics: Data from the EU Digital Decade State Report
The fourth report on the State of the EU Digital Decade, published on June 17, outlines a picture of concrete progress for our country. Italy has positioned itself above the European average in crucial segments such as coverage of new generation networks and modernization of public infrastructures, benefiting from investments made through the PNRR.
From a connectivity standpoint, the numbers confirm the exceeding of community targets. 5G coverage has reached 99.82%, surpassing the 99.38% recorded at the EU level. FTTP (Fiber To The Premises) also shows rapid progress, reaching 77.56% of Italian households compared to 74.13% in Europe, with an annual growth rate of 9.6%, outpacing the continent's average of 7.1%. However, the issue of infrastructure gaps in rural areas remains open, where high-profile connectivity still requires targeted interventions.
Infrastructure and Connectivity: 5G Runs Alongside Fiber Optics
The digital transformation has profoundly affected the face of Public Administration. The IT-Wallet system, the integration of SPID and CIE, along with the migration of data to qualified cloud infrastructures, have made interoperability between entities an operational reality. The National Digital Data Platform plays a crucial role in this regard, managing over 1.1 billion information exchanges between 9,000 different entities.
According to data released in the study, the healthcare sector stands out for its efficiency on the digital front: the spread of the Electronic Health Record 2.0 has pushed the sector to 89.93%, well above the 86.51% recorded on average in Europe. This figure is supported by the widespread adoption of electronic prescriptions by general practitioners and pediatricians, which in February 2026 covered 95% of the professional pool.
On the AI front, Italy has moved ahead with law 132/2025, defining a national regulatory framework that harmonizes technological development with the ethical principles outlined in the European AI Act. The country also stands out for the robustness of its academic and industrial ecosystem oriented towards quantum technologies, where national capabilities are recognized as a significant continental asset.
Challenges, According to the Study: Human Capital
Despite infrastructural achievements, the report highlights necessary improvements in human capital. Although the percentage of citizens with basic digital skills has risen to 54% (+9% compared to 2025), this figure remains far from the European average of 75%. Digital facilitation initiatives, such as the 4,000 active Digital Easy Points in the territory and the Digital Civil Service, aim to fill this gap. The issue of ICT specialists remains significant. With a fixed presence of 3.8% among the employed - against a decade target set at 10% - the training of new professional figures currently represents the most challenging task.