The top level domain for Italy is it; the pan-European domain .eu is also used.
Currently, Internet access in Italy is carried out using various technologies, including Dial-Up , cable, DSL and wireless Internet .
According to the Council of Europe, Italy is one of the largest FTTH markets in Europe, with more than 2.5 million homes connected to fiber optic networks at the end of December 2010 [1] . As of the same date, there were about 348 thousand subscribers of fiber-optic networks in the country [1] . Consortium of Internet Providers, Including Fastweb Companies , Vodafone, and Wind , put forward the project “Fiber optic for Italy”, according to which it is planned to reach the level of fiber connection up to 20 million people in the 15 largest cities of Italy by 2015 [1] , and Telecom Italia plans to connect 138 cities by 2018 [1] . In addition, the government launched the Digital Italy project, which aims to provide at least 50% of Italians with high-speed Internet access in 2020, as well as expand fiber optic networks in rural areas.
Data published by the National Institute of Statistics showed that at the end of 2011, 58.8% of Italian families had a personal computer (57.6% in 2010) [2] , 54.5% had access to the Internet (52.4% in 2010 ) [2] and 45.8% had broadband Internet access (compared with 43.4% in 2010) [2] , 26.3% of Italian Internet users aged 14 and over made online purchases in 2011 (26.4% in 2010) [2] .
Legal Regulation
Amendments to Italy’s anti-terrorism laws since the terrorist attacks in Madrid and London in 2005 limit the opening of new Wi-Fi access points . Those who wish to open a hot spot must submit an application to the police headquarters, and Internet users must submit an identity document. Because of this, the number of Wi-Fi points in Italy is 5 times less than in France and, in fact, in Italy there are no municipal wireless networks [3] .
Currently, content filters in Italy are used on websites hosting child pornography [4] and on some P2P file sharing sites (including The Pirate Bay ). Also, there is a filtering of online games sites that do not have a license to work in Italy [5] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 Will Italy have the best FTTH network in Europe? FTTH Council Europe. Web 02 Dec. 2012.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 Cittadini e nuove tecnologie. Istituto nazionale di statistica. Web 01 Dec. 2012.
- ↑ Libero web senza fili - l'Espresso . Date of treatment February 1, 2013. Archived on February 6, 2013.
- ↑ Italy enacts law to block child porn Web sites | Reuters . Date of treatment February 1, 2013. Archived on February 6, 2013.
- ↑ AAMS - Fight against illegality . Date of treatment February 1, 2013. Archived on February 6, 2013.