This first nationwide commercial WiMAX network in Italy will be one of the largest WiMAX networks in Europe.The first 130 sites will be deployed by Alcatel-Lucent in Puglia and Veneto Regions.
This new network will enable Aria to provide municipalities, businesses, small office/home office (SoHo) and residential users with high-speed access to the Internet as well as advanced broadband multimedia services, such as video streaming.
In a second phase of the project, Aria plans to introduce voice over IP (VoIP) and virtual private network (VPN) services.
Alcatel-Lucent will act as network integrator with a wide range of services such as network planning and engineering, site & technology implementation to provide a turnkey WiMAX Rev-e solution, including base stations, wireless access controllers, backhaul transport microwave equipment as well as an operations and maintenance center (OMC).

WiMax licenses have been awaded to 11 different companies.

Ariaadsl and A.F.T. were able to gain an almost nationwide coverage, while incumbent Telecom Italia concentrated mostly on the Central and Southern part of the country. Among the biggest investors, Retelit was able to gain coverage on all Northern Italian regions.

Here is a full list of companies getting at least one license.

• A.F.T.
• AriaDsl
• Assomax
• Brennercom
• City Carrier
• E-via Gruppo Retelit
• Infracom
• MGM Productions – Profit Group
• Ribes Informatica-Hal Service-Lan Service-Informatica System-Tex97
• Telecom Italia
• Tourist Ferry Boat-Temix-Medianet Comunicazioni