Rome takes the lead and drives the digital infrastructure of buildings
We had discussed it with Antonella Melito ([link]) when the draft resolution was first presented, and now it’s time to highlight that the promises have been kept — with this measure, Rome is truly acting as Italy’s Capital and setting itself up as a best practice in the very delicate field of digital infrastructure for buildings.
A resolution that reached the City Council and—believe it or not—was approved unanimously, with bipartisan support…
At first glance, the subject might not seem groundbreaking, but in fact it carries great significance: it breaks a decade-long silence surrounding the enforcement of a national law, that well-known Article 135-bis of the Consolidated Building Act. The article was intended by lawmakers to facilitate the country’s digital transition, yet it has largely remained a dead letter until now.
We therefore join, without hesitation, City Councillors Antonella Melito, Riccardo Corbucci, and Sandro Petrolati—the sponsors of the resolution—in expressing our “great satisfaction for the unanimous approval by the City Assembly of the proposal introducing important amendments to the forms used by the competent offices in building procedures within Roma Capitale. The aim is to ensure full implementation of Article 135-bis of Presidential Decree 380/2001, concerning the multiservice physical infrastructure of buildings. With this act,” the three Councillors add, “Rome takes a decisive step forward to guarantee that all new buildings are properly equipped with fiber optic communication systems and next-generation digital infrastructures, in full compliance with the law and with the objectives of digital and environmental transition.”
The resolution provides for the integration of building forms on the SUET platform and the establishment of a Working Committee for the Multiservice Infrastructure of Buildings, composed of representatives of the city administration, the Urban Planning and Technological Innovation Commissions, and professional associations, after consultation with trade organizations.
This Committee will serve as a permanent platform for dialogue and coordination, with a dual mission: to ensure that digital infrastructure regulations are immediately applied to all new buildings, and to develop a long-term strategic vision aimed at extending such infrastructure to existing building stock—thus laying the foundations for a national reference model.
It is, therefore, a measure driven by modernization and responsibility, bringing with it immediate and tangible benefits for Rome, which can be summarized as follows: greater legal certainty in building procedures, with fewer disputes and faster timelines; higher property values and a more transparent market; more qualified and stable employment for local professionals and businesses; and a reduction in the digital divide, ensuring equal access to next-generation digital services for all.
An act of responsibility that positions Rome as a leading city in Italy’s digital transformation—one that, it is hoped, will soon serve as a model for all Italian municipalities.
Antonella Melito will be among the speakers at SBE25 during the workshop on EPBD4: https://smartbuildingexpo.it/workshop-epd4/