Partenariato pubblico-privato e banda larga: una possibile soluzione per l'Italia?

The electronic communication market is currently in a phase of pure transition as it shifts from obsolete copper network and classical business models to Next Generation Networks (NGN) that use the same infrastructure to enable the widespread distribution of different services (voice, data, TV), thus opening the door to new convergent business models. However, the considerably high cost of building a new fibre network, the unforeseeable payback period, an uncertain regulatory framework and the weak demand outlook make an unconvincing argument for exclusively private investment in NGN deployment. Given the need for direct public intervention, the paper focuses on public-private partnership models (PPP). After a theoretical analysis of PPP to understand both the pitfalls and the advantages of the various types of models, we then analyse several case studies of NGN PPP models adopted by both European and non- European countries. The results of that research and a basic study of the Italian broadband scenario lead the authors to propose a number of policy guidelines for the use of PPP to encourage the building of new broadband networks in Italy.