Rome inaugurates today its first 5G-equipped metro stations. From Vittorio Emanuele to Cipro, passing through Termini, Repubblica, Barberini, Spagna, Flaminio, Lepanto, and Ottaviano: thanks to the "Rome 5G" project by Smart City Roma SpA, citizens, tourists, and pilgrims arriving for the Jubilee can enjoy fast and reliable 4G and 5G mobile connections from all mobile operators—Fastweb-Vodafone, iliad, TIM, and WINDTRE—across the 9 Jubilee stations of Metro Line A (7 km of track), ensuring a seamless experience for smartphone, tablet, and PC users.
This marks the first milestone in the collaboration between Roma Capitale and Smart City Roma, a company controlled by INWIT leading the Rome 5G project. The 4G and 5G signals from mobile operators are now available both within the stations and in transit through the connecting tunnels, thanks to a multi-operator digital infrastructure for indoor locations (Distributed Antenna System - DAS). This is the initial phase of a larger plan aiming to bring 5G technology via DAS to all 75 stations of Metro Lines A, B, B1, and C by 2026, encompassing a total of 1,170 remote units for 4G and 5G, over 3,000 antennas, and more than 250 km of new fiber optics, covering a total route of 61 km.
Managing voice and data traffic in Rome's metro system is the new INWIT/Smart City Roma Radio Equipment Room (BTS Hotel) located at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele station, one of the largest and most advanced in Europe. This facility serves as the control and coordination hub for the telecommunications equipment enabling connectivity for Fastweb-Vodafone, iliad, TIM, and WINDTRE.
Today, at the inauguration at Piazza Vittorio station, attendees included the Mayor of Roma Capitale Roberto Gualtieri, TIM CEO Pietro Labriola, iliad CEO Benedetto Levi, WINDTRE Chief Technology Officer Carlo Melis, Fastweb+Vodafone Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer Lisa Di Feliciantonio, and INWIT General Director Diego Galli.
The Rome 5G plan also includes enabling 5G connectivity for telecom operators at all major key locations in the city and activating a broad portfolio of digital services provided by Roma Capitale across 100 squares, 98 adjacent streets, and 7 public buildings (including the Campidoglio). This will be achieved through the installation of small cells according to operators' needs. Additionally, the plan calls for the deployment of Wi-Fi in 100 squares, 2,000 cameras, and approximately 1,800 IoT sensors. The goal is to provide the best connectivity and security for 3 million residents and over 15 million tourists, a number expected to grow significantly in this Jubilee year.
"Rome is taking the lead in the Smart City world with a fundamental service like 5G coverage. Today, we activate this service in the first nine stations of Metro Line A, key transit points with high foot traffic, which will now benefit from a stable, simple, and fast connection. By June, we will complete the entire Line A, by December all of Metro Line B, and by June 2026, Line C will also be covered. This same technology is already active in nine squares in Rome, equipped with sensors and high-definition cameras. By the end of June, 36 more squares will be added, reaching a total of 100 by December. This is a major step forward in using cutting-edge technology for the benefit of the community and demonstrates how public-private collaboration can be instrumental in creating innovative infrastructure essential for Rome’s growth," said Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Roma Capitale.
"We are pleased to bring our expertise to support all mobile operators alongside Roma Capitale for the efficient execution of the Rome 5G project. INWIT reaffirms its commitment to transforming the capital into an increasingly connected and intelligent Smart City through digital and shared infrastructures," stated Diego Galli, General Director of INWIT.
"We are working on developing Rome’s digital infrastructure because we want to contribute to a tangible transformation aimed at improving people's daily lives. Technologies like 5G serve as enablers for building more efficient, sustainable cities capable of responding in real-time to the needs of citizens and tourists. This is the power of public-private collaboration when goals are clear," said Pietro Labriola, CEO of TIM.
"iliad continues to invest in creating extensive coverage, bringing innovation where it is needed. With this spirit, we are happy to collaborate with the City Administration and participate in the Rome 5G project, taking another concrete step towards making innovation more accessible to everyone," said Benedetto Levi, CEO of iliad.
"We are proud to have contributed to a modernization effort for the city. We have taken on the costs and responsibilities of designing an infrastructure because we are committed to continuously improving the connectivity service we offer to our customers, allowing them to communicate, work, and enjoy their free time even while traveling underground in the capital," said Carlo Melis, Chief Technology Officer of WINDTRE.
"Advanced infrastructure and high-speed connections, even within urban transport networks, make our cities more livable, secure, and efficient. Fastweb+Vodafone pursues this goal by providing high-performance, pervasive connectivity and developing services that, through AI integration, enhance urban life quality, facilitating interaction between the administration and citizens and transforming our cities into true supercities," said Lisa Di Feliciantonio, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer of Fastweb+Vodafone.