The Friuli Venezia Giulia region in Italy has launched a major initiative to bring high-speed internet to cycling paths that traverse remote and poorly connected areas. This investment, amounting to nearly five million euros, aims to reduce the digital divide while enhancing the infrastructure available to both residents and tourists. The project is expected to improve safety and support the development of digital services along these routes, such as interactive information points.
This specific initiative, called “Wireless connectivity along cycle paths in inland areas for smart services” (“Connettività wireless lungo le piste ciclabili delle aree interne per servizi smart”, in Italian), focuses on 125 kilometres of cycling routes and will be implemented gradually, with the first 70 kilometres scheduled for completion by 2029. The selected paths run through scenic and mountainous areas such as Alta Carnia, the Friulian Dolomites, and various valleys, making them attractive to cycle tourists. The introduction of high-speed internet is seen as a way to modernise these areas and make them more accessible and appealing to visitors.
Beyond connectivity, the project will enable the deployment of additional smart services, including surveillance systems, intelligent traffic signals, and cyclist monitoring tools. This digital infrastructure is part of the broader Regional Cycling Mobility Plan (PREMOCI) that guides the creation of a network of strategic cycle paths, particularly significant for so-called ‘slow’ tourism, a sector that is constantly evolving. This regional strategy also includes significant investment in social housing and property maintenance, demonstrating a commitment to balanced development that supports both technological progress and community wellbeing.
Author: Carla Giaume
Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.
