The Comune di La Spezia has signaled its readiness to pursue a comprehensive digital transformation initiative by formally acknowledging public interest in a smart city proposal submitted by Boldyn Networks Italia. The city council resolution, approved in late December 2025, opens the door to structured negotiations for a potential public-private partnership that could significantly upgrade the municipality’s technological infrastructure.
A Port City Seeks Digital Modernization
La Spezia, a coastal municipality of approximately 93,000 residents in eastern Liguria, serves as an important naval and commercial harbor along the Tyrrhenian Sea. The city ranks among Italy’s “Highly Digital” municipalities according to the ICity Rank index, which tracks digital maturity across the country’s provincial capitals. This latest initiative represents an effort to advance further in that ranking while delivering tangible service improvements for residents and visitors.
The proposal from Boldyn Networks Italia, submitted in September 2025, requested access to municipal data necessary to develop a comprehensive project blueprint. City administrators characterized the initiative as strategically valuable, particularly given the potential for integrated digital management of multiple urban services under a unified framework.
Proposed Services Span Multiple Urban Domains
The smart city concept under consideration encompasses a broad range of technological interventions designed to modernize public services. Key elements include expanded public Wi-Fi coverage, enhanced video surveillance capabilities, and the creation of a digital platform for institutional communications and citizen reporting.
Environmental monitoring features prominently in the proposal, with air quality sensors intended to provide real-time data for both municipal planners and residents. Public transportation management and the development of smart street furniture also form part of the envisioned infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, the plan includes digital mapping of the urban territory to support urban planning activities and routine maintenance operations.
Sports facilities present another area of focus, with potential telecommunications infrastructure improvements planned for stadiums and arenas within the municipality.
Public-Private Partnerships Define Italian Smart City Approach
The exploration of a partnership with Boldyn Networks aligns with broader trends in Italian municipal technology adoption. Public-private partnerships have become the predominant model for smart city infrastructure development across the country, driven in part by funding mechanisms under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
The PNRR has allocated approximately €17 billion toward urban innovation and digitalization projects, with specific provisions for integrated mobility services, urban regeneration, and smart grid development. These funds have accelerated municipal interest in comprehensive digital transformation initiatives, though many smaller cities continue to face challenges related to internal technical competencies and access to resources beyond competitive grant programs.
Next Steps Require Detailed Project Development
The city council’s resolution establishes preliminary public interest but does not constitute a formal contract commitment. Boldyn Networks Italia must now develop a detailed project proposal incorporating specific technical specifications, deployment timelines, and financial arrangements for council evaluation.
The neutral host model typically employed by Boldyn Networks involves the company building, operating, and maintaining shared telecommunications infrastructure that remains accessible to multiple mobile network operators and service providers. This approach can reduce deployment costs while ensuring broader market access to upgraded connectivity services.
For La Spezia, successful implementation could position the municipality more competitively within Italy’s evolving digital landscape while addressing practical urban management challenges through technology-enabled service delivery.
