Cybersecurity, AIIP to the Government: "Urgent table needed"

•             Telco

The association of providers: "The issue of the impact of possible electricity rationing on Internet services and on the resilience of the entire national infrastructure has been completely neglected". On the other hand, the TV-5G frequency node has been dissolved: 7.5 million to mountain communities for free satellite TV

12 Aug 2022

A. S.

The Dl aiuti contains – according to the reading of the Italian Internet Provider Association – a series of lights and shadows. Among the positive aspects of the measure there is the approval of Article 37 on the reaction of the State to cyber attacks, while among the negative ones there is the fact that the decree has completely neglected, explains Aiip, the issue of the impact of possible electric rationing on Internet services and therefore on the resilience of the entire national infrastructure ".

"Thanks to the efforts made by the operators, independently and without advertising - reads the statement - the Italian networks already enjoy a high level of protection. The breaches and damage resulting from cyber attacks recently covered by the press depend, rather, on the lack of attention of large institutional users and companies to the securing of their systems, and on widespread shortcomings in the security training of the workforce".

"Aiip notes, therefore, an erroneous definition of priorities for the security and resilience of telecommunications networks - explains Aiip - Before providing new procedures for the reaction to external attacks which, at present, does not represent a truly 'emergency' profile, the Dl Aiuti should have faced in time the concrete danger that the energy rationing of next winter represents for the operational continuity of the Italian network".

Then the association goes into detail of its perplexities: "It is known that in the last twenty years there has been a reconversion of generation plants towards methane, that Italy is a large importer of electricity and that any interruption or further reduction of the flow of gaseous hydrocarbons from Russia would certainly cause problems of electricity rationing. Without careful planning of electricity distribution and a plan to safeguard pop transmissions and sensitive sites for telecommunications operators, systems that convey data from fixed and mobile networks may not be able to provide services, causing serious direct and indirect damage that is difficult to predict."

To better explain the position of Aiip is the president of the association, Giovanni Zorzoni, who underlines how "on such an important issue as network security and the fight against hostile actions, operators have not been involved in the slightest. The result, as the facts show – Zorzoni denounces – is a rule that deals with virtual issues, but which demonstrates a lack of understanding of the much more concrete dangers we are facing. If even in this case we had been involved – he argues – we could certainly have contributed to identifying priorities and offering concrete solutions".

"Having taken note of the missed opportunity by Parliament - he concludes - Aiip asks the Government for the immediate urgent establishment of a discussion table to identify concrete and feasible solutions immediately to manage the impact of the energy crisis on electronic communication services and on those of the information society".

7.5 million for free satellite TV to mountain communities

To solve the problems of receiving the TV signal of residents in mountain areas after the switch-off of digital terrestrial frequencies and with the introduction of the new Mpeg-4 encoding, the MoED has provided for an allocation of 10 million euros in the Dl Aiuti Bis. Specifically, this is 2.5 million for digital terrestrial repeaters and 7.5 million for the increase up to 50 euros of the TV Bonus for the purchase of satellite equipment. "We have worked a lot with the undersecretary at the Mise Anna Ascani and with her offices – underlines Marco Bussone, president of Uncem, the union of mountain communities – We have held at least fifteen meetings. The point to be understood now is how these funds will be spent. There is a lack of implementing decrees - he explains - with operating methods and procedures for the implementation of interventions".

And if for digital terrestrial repeaters "a refined work is needed to help mayors choose the best thing to do – explains Bussone – Also because some repeaters will not be able to be turned on again. They have not only a technological problem, but also a frequency conflict." The solution, according to Bussone, could be the satellite signal of TivùSat: "Even – he explains – we are thinking of broad-spectrum parables that can amplify the signal to cover more homes, if not entire fractions"

"The increase to 50 euros of vouchers for the satellite is good – concludes Bussone – but it is not clear whether they will only concern decoders and TVs or even the installation of parabolas. And on this I asked the Mise for an in-depth analysis. And then we need to figure out exactly to whom the bonuses go: only to residents or even to owners of second homes; in which municipalities; and how they can be used. It is necessary to define the implementing decree and work to accompany the territories. The funds are the result of important work, now we need to give concreteness"