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13 December 2024
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 partnership

Roma Termini becomes the first major italian 5G station with INWIT

  • Ultra-fast data connectivity with TIM and Vodafone signals already active, offering stable coverage across an area of 115,000 square meters, thanks to INWIT’s DAS. iliad’s activation is scheduled for December.

  • A further step by INWIT towards making Rome a 5G smart city.

Rome, 13 December 2024 – Roma Termini is set to become the first major Italian station to offer faster and more stable 5G connections to the more than 450,000 people who use it daily, thanks to the deployment of INWIT’s DAS (Distributed Antenna System) for mobile telephony.

This advancement comes as a result of an agreement between INWIT, one of Italy’s leading digital infrastructure companies, and Grandi Stazioni Rail, a company of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group, controlled by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, which is responsible for managing Italy’s 14 main stations.

This infrastructure optimises the signal reception for telecommunications operators and enhances mobile network connectivity, improving internet browsing on all devices with a significant boost in signal quality and customer experience. At Roma Termini station, customers of TIM, Vodafone (already active), and iliad (to be activated by the end of December) will be able to quickly and effectively take advantage of the advanced technologies available on their smartphones, tablets and PCs, supporting both 4G and 5G.

INWIT’s DAS provides dedicated multi-operator indoor coverage over an area of 115,000 square metres within Roma Termini station, featuring a total of 125 micro-antennas and 8 km of fibre optic cable. The coverage extends to the station’s busiest areas, including the large entrance hall, platforms, the gallery adjacent to the tracks, the underground level leading to the subway with the shopping arcade, the terrace with shops and restaurants, and the entire covered area of the new car park. Thanks to INWIT’s installation, 5G service from the three mobile operators will be available across all high-traffic areas, delivering maximum performance.

“The implementation of the DAS project in Roma Termini station, a strategic transit hub, also in view of the Jubilee, confirms INWIT’s commitment to building efficient and modern digital and shared infrastructures for mobile connectivity, to support all operators and to benefit the digital transition to smart cities,” said Diego Galli, General Manager of INWIT.

The installation of the DAS at Roma Termini marks another step by INWIT in advancing the Rome 5G smart city vision. This initiative is closely aligned with the Rome 5G project, which INWIT’s subsidiary, Smart City Roma, is developing in partnership with Roma Capitale. The project aims to support operators by enhancing 5G connectivity across the city’s key areas, including subways, squares and streets.

Rome’s Termini station is the latest in a series of railway stations managed by Grandi Stazioni Rail to adopt INWIT’s DAS system.  The infrastructure is already active, with a 5G-ready connection for the passive component, at Roma Tiburtina, Napoli Centrale, Verona Porta Nuova, Torino Porta Nuova, Venezia Mestre, and Venezia Santa Lucia. It is also being implemented at Bologna Centrale and Firenze Santa Maria Novella.

“5G is key to driving innovation in critical sectors for the country and making life easier for millions of users. Expanding advanced technologies like 5G at Roma Termini Station means iliad is bringing innovation even closer to people, offering ultra-fast, reliable and affordable connections”, said iliad CEO Benedetto Levi.

“TIM is dedicated to shaping the cities of the future, more connected, data-driven and responsive to the needs of both administrators and citizens. Roma Termini station is one of the main entry points to the city, and it is essential that it is equipped with all the latest connectivity services, especially in light of the Jubilee. Through TIM Enterprise’s smart land model, we bring together cutting-edge cloud, IoT, 5G, and AI technologies, equipping local government with an evolved, sustainable and secure city model, offering real-time solutions to address the needs of residents. The collaboration with INWIT to enhance connectivity at Roma Termini is exactly in line with this goal,” explained TIM’s Chief Enterprise and Innovative Solutions Officer Elio Schiavo.

“Railway stations are no longer mere transit points; they are becoming real hubs of connectivity and innovation – said Vodafone Italy’s interim CEO Sabrina Casalta. Investing in advanced technologies and increasingly high-performance 5G connectivity not only improves the experience for travellers, but also transforms spaces like Termini Station into engines of development for smart cities. Vodafone has been actively collaborating with various market players for some time, aiming to contribute to more sustainable, efficient and connected mobility, capable of meeting today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges”.