Setting Up Home Internet in Rome: Fiber, FTTC, and Fixed Wireless

In a nutshell

Almost everyone in Rome can get a fast home internet connection, but the quality depends on where you live. There are three main technologies — FTTH, FTTC, and FWA — each with different speeds and reliability levels. Before signing any contract, the single most important step is checking coverage at your exact address and door number: availability changes street by street, and some central neighbourhoods are less well covered than you'd expect.

At a glance

Cost	Typical 2026 monthly fee: €25–35/month for FTTH 1 Gbps; €20–30/month for FTTC. Activation often free as a promotion
Timeline	FTTH in an already-wired building: 10–20 working days. FTTH requiring new cabling: 20–45 days. FTTC and FWA: 5–15 days. Switching from another provider: 10–15 days
Where	Online on provider websites or in their Rome retail stores
Documents	Photo ID, Codice Fiscale (Italian tax ID — your personal 16-character code, used for almost everything), residence permit (non-EU citizens), IBAN or card for direct debit

The three technologies: which one do you actually get?

FTTH — Fiber To The Home: optical fibre runs all the way into your flat. Speeds up to 1 Gbps download, latency under 10 ms. Best option for heavy remote work, gaming, and households with many devices. Available across most of Rome, but not every building has been wired yet.

FTTC — Fiber To The Cabinet: fibre reaches the street cabinet, then the last stretch into your home runs on copper (VDSL2 technology). Download speeds up to 200 Mbps, but upload is only around 20 Mbps. Real-world speed depends on how far your flat is from the cabinet. Watch out: some providers advertise this as simply "fibre" — AGCOM (Italy's communications regulator) requires them to state the exact technology in the offer. Always read the fine print.

FWA — Fixed Wireless Access: a radio connection delivered via an antenna installed on your roof or balcony. Speeds between 30 and 300 Mbps, variable depending on obstructions (other buildings, trees). Useful in outer neighbourhoods where fibre hasn't arrived yet.

The physical infrastructure in Rome is managed primarily by Open Fiber and FiberCop/TIM. Most commercial providers — TIM, Vodafone, Fastweb, WINDTRE, Iliad, Sky WiFi, Tiscali, EOLO, Linkem — are essentially retailers reselling access to the same underlying network.

Check coverage before anything else

Before comparing offers, look up your full address (street, door number, staircase, floor). You can do this on:

• bandaultralarga.italia.it: the government's national Banda Ultra Larga (ultra-broadband) map — shows available technologies for each address.
• maps.infratelitalia.it: Infratel/Open Fiber's updated coverage map.
• Individual provider sites: TIM at tim.it, Vodafone at vodafone.it, Fastweb at fastweb.it, WINDTRE at windtre.it, Iliad at iliad.it, Sky WiFi at sky.it, EOLO at eolo.it, Linkem/Tiscali at linkem.com.

When checking, look for: which technology is available at your address (FTTH, FTTC, or FWA), the maximum speed at your door number, and whether your building is already fibre-cabled or would require new wiring.

How to activate your connection

New activation

1. Check coverage (see above).
2. Compare offers: monthly price, speed, contract lock-in period, modem cost, included services.
3. Choose your provider and proceed — either online or in a store. Sign the contract (online contracts require OTP confirmation via SMS).
4. A technician comes to your home to install the modem and activate the line — in some cases activation happens remotely.
5. For FWA, a site visit is needed to determine the best antenna position.

Switching from another provider

Do not cancel your old contract yourself — you risk paying double for a period.

1. Get your Codice di Migrazione (migration code — find it on the first page of your old provider's bill, or call their customer service).
2. Sign up with the new provider and give them the migration code.
3. The new provider handles the closure of the old contract. The switch takes roughly 10–15 days. Your landline number can be ported over automatically.

Taking over a line in an already-wired flat

If the flat already has active fibre in the previous tenant's name, contact the current provider and ask about a voltura (change of account holder without service interruption). If that isn't possible, the previous tenant cancels and you sign a new contract.

Documents you need

For any activation you'll need: a valid photo ID, your Codice Fiscale, your full address, a mobile number, an email address, and an IBAN or card for direct debit.

If you're a non-EU citizen, add a valid permesso di soggiorno (some providers accept the postal receipt of a renewal application — check before you proceed). Some providers require an Italian bank account.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Buying a "fibre" offer without confirming it's FTTH. FTTC is very different from FTTH in terms of upload speed and stability. Always check the technology in the offer's information sheet.
2. Not reading the terms on lock-in periods and cancellation fees. Some contracts include penalties for early termination. Read the information form before signing.
3. Signing contracts with door-to-door salespeople. No reputable provider uses doorstep selling as a standard practice. Never sign in that situation.

Special cases

Remote work: stable HD and 4K video calls require at least 30 Mbps symmetrical upload. Only FTTH reliably delivers this.

Building not yet wired for FTTH: providers like Open Fiber and FiberCop can cable the building on request, but authorisations are needed and timelines stretch to one to three months. Check with your provider and your building's property manager (amministratore di condominio).

Historic buildings in central Rome: heritage and Soprintendenza (the fine-arts and landscape authority) restrictions can delay FTTH cabling significantly. Confirm with your provider before signing.

University students: some providers offer discounted plans for under-30s. You'll need a Codice Fiscale and Italian residency.

Cancellation: you can withdraw from a consumer contract at any time after the first year without penalties, with a maximum notice period of 30 days (AGCOM Resolution 487/18/CONS). If a complaint isn't resolved by your provider within 45 days, you can use AGCOM's free ConciliaWeb dispute-resolution service at agcom.it.

Official sources

• AGCOM — official website
• Banda Ultra Larga — government portal
• Infratel/Open Fiber coverage map
• MIMIT — Banda Ultra Larga

Legal references: D.Lgs. 259/2003 and D.Lgs. 207/2021 (Electronic Communications Code), D.Lgs. 206/2005 (Consumer Code), AGCOM Resolution 252/16/CONS (offer transparency), AGCOM Resolution 487/18/CONS (withdrawal), AGCOM Resolution 348/18/CONS (modem freedom), AGCOM Resolution 661/06/CONS (service quality).