The project includes coverage of all metro lines, installation of over 2,200 signal propagation points for small cells, development of public Wi-Fi network with 850 access points in 100 squares, installation of 1,800 IoT sensors and 2,000 5G cameras for an increasingly safe and smart capital.
The new 5G infrastructure will be able to provide advanced connectivity in all the busiest places in the capital, increasing public safety and enabling intelligent services
The Municipality of Rome and Boldyn Networks, one of the largest neutral host providers in the world, together with its partners IFM SpA, Unidata SpA and Cecchini Srl announced last December the signing of a concession agreement for the creation of #Roma5G.
The ambitious project involves the construction, management, operation and maintenance of a 5G and Wi-fi infrastructure throughout Rome. The initiative is consistent with the mayor’s vision of making Rome a connected, digital city and a sustainable smart city, at the forefront of European cities.
Rome, a city of around 3 million inhabitants, will be technologically ready to welcome around 32 million visitors expected for the 2025 Jubilee celebrations. This is in addition to the around 15 million tourists that the city welcomes every year and who expect complete connectivity to capture and share special moments in real time.
Il #Roma5G project will be launched starting in the next few weeks and will be built in the name of safety and environmental sustainability, being based on the small-cell system which provides reduced energy consumption and low electromagnetic emissions.
In detail, the project includes:
Coverage of all metro lines (A, B, C) and in particular 83 stations and 68 km of tunnels, in all frequency bands for 4G and 5G services. The development of the passive infrastructure, including the 2,200 signal propagation points for the city’s 5G underlay coverage, based on small cells, open to host all public and private market operators. The development of the Free WiFi network of Rome Capital with approximately 850 points of presence distributed in 100 squares (and adjacent streets) with a high density of tourist flows. The supply, installation and management of approximately 1800 IoT sensors and 2000 high resolution 5G cameras for the development of Smart City solutions and land management/control.
The project, which involves a 25-year concession, will integrate perfectly with the aesthetics of the city and existing infrastructure.
There will be numerous benefits deriving from the realization of the project, starting with full connectivity in all the key points of the city. Then, the increase in public safety thanks to video surveillance systems and the enabling of a large portfolio of digital services provided by Roma Capitale (free Wi-Fi, environmental control sensors at the points of greatest traffic, and others).
A high-capacity, high-availability, low-latency network is essential to deploy intelligent services effectively and securely for the public and private sectors. In general, the project will be fundamental to project the city towards the path that will make it a true Smart City.
Photo Valerio171006, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome, commented: “We are proud to be able to mark the start of one of the most strategically important projects for the future of Rome Capital. The collaboration with Boldyn Networks will allow the creation of a new generation 5G and Wi-Fi technological network to enable the most advanced digital services. Thanks to this project, Rome will become one of the most advanced smart cities in Europe. We will also allow the city to achieve a reduction in electromagnetic emissions, using neutral technology open to all mobile operators.”
“We are honored to bring Boldyn Networks’ neutral host operator experience to this important and cutting-edge project, which realizes the municipality’s vision of moving towards a modern Smart City. Thanks to the collaboration with mobile operators, the #Roma5G project opens up many possibilities for the benefit of all citizens and visitors of Rome for years to come.” he has declared Andrew McGrath, Group Chief Commercial Officer di Boldyn Networks. “The #Roma5G project demonstrates the importance of the Italian market for Boldyn’s expansion in Europe”.
Boldyn Networks has already built advanced shared network solutions in some of the world‘s major cities, such as New York, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong. The company is committed to bridging the digital divide through continuous collaboration with sector partners and a particular focus on public-private partnerships. In this context, the #Roma5G project joins participation in the LinkNYC project, the largest public and free outdoor Wi-Fi network in the United States; the long-term partnership with Transport for London as a central pillar of London’s 4G/5G underground connectivity and emergency services; and Sunderland’s 20-year involvement in the development of Sunderland’s smart city, this includes an extensive public Wi-Fi network, the development of one of the country’s first 5G universities and other concrete examples such as smart sensors for safer streets.