MILAN, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Italy is preparing to test the

use of satellites produced by Elon Musk's Starlink to offer

internet connection services in some remote areas of the

country, a government official was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

The Starlink project was being discussed with some regional

administrations, Undersecretary to the Prime Minister's Office

Alessio Butti said in an interview with Il Sole 24 Ore daily

ahead of a Group of Seven ministerial meeting on technology and

digital on Lake Como.

"We're assessing with Starlink and other players the

possibility of complementing existing infrastructure with

satellites for the most remote areas," he said.

"In reference to Starlink in particular, we're currently

speaking to some regions - in the north, centre and south of the

country - to test a 'space based service' for remote areas or

areas without terrestrial infrastructure."

Butti said the government had been exploring options such as

a satellite-based internet connection service to make up for

delays accumulated by companies in charge of fibre rollout

plans.

The country is pursuing a broader plan, part of the European

Union post-pandemic recovery programme, to ensure homes and

businesses across Italy have access to fixed-line internet

speeds of at least 1 Gigabit per second by 2026.

In 2022, state-backed fibre-optic firms Open Fiber and its

rival FiberCop, formerly owned by Telecom Italia,

secured 3.4 billion euros ($3.71 billion) in EU funds to ensure

the whole of Italy can have full-fibre connectivity.

Less than a third of the planned rollout has been completed

so far, Italian media reported earlier this month.

"The Italy at 1 Giga scheme is a key element of our

commitments under the post-pandemic recovery plan, and we're

aware of the importance of reaching the target set for 2026,"

Butti said.

Starlink already offers satellite internet services in Italy

and has more than 50,000 customers in the country, according to

a person with knowledge of the matter.

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