Open Factory
“Factory”, or in other words, a "hub"
Opened in Rome in November 2019, Open Factory is the beating heart of Open Fiber’s technological innovation. Conceived as an advanced hub open to collaboration with researchers and partners, it is effectively a scaled-down replica of the national fibre-optic network. This secure environment acts as an ideal bridge between theoretical research and practical application, enabling the company to test and refine the solutions that will drive Italy’s digital transformation, from connecting the most remote villages to developing next-generation smart services.
A Sandbox for Network Evolution
Open Factory is the company’s reference environment for experimentation, testing and technological validation. Designed to reproduce real-world scenarios in a controlled and flexible environment, it operates as a true dynamic sandbox.
A range of high-value activities are carried out there every day, including:
- Verification and Validation Tests (PVV) – Rigorous testing to ensure the compliance and reliability of solutions before they are deployed in the field
- Proof of Concept (PoC) – Projects aimed at assessing new functionalities, innovative architectures and network performance levels
- Innovative service demos – Practical simulations for both internal purposes and presentations to external stakeholders
- Knowledge development – An ecosystem designed to strengthen the technical and methodological expertise of the entire organisation
Strategic and operational benefits
Having a dedicated testing environment generates tangible, cross-functional benefits across the entire infrastructure. Running multiple activities in parallel accelerates the innovation process, significantly reducing the time-to-market for new services.
Furthermore, the ability to simulate every scenario in advance increases overall network stability and reduces the costs associated with testing, troubleshooting and software fixes. Finally, Open Factory provides effective support and close collaboration between all company functions (Business, Operations, Communications and Regulatory Affairs), fostering continuous alignment between technological innovation and the organisation’s and market’s actual needs.
But which technologies are being developed within Open Factory? Among the most promising areas are solutions set to revolutionise the very concept of infrastructure, such as Fiber sensing.
Fiber sensing: fibre optics as an intelligent sensor
With Fiber sensing, fibre optics takes an important evolutionary leap, transforming from a “simple” data transmission medium into a widespread network of intelligent sensors.
This technology uses the propagation of light to detect changes in temperature, acoustic vibrations and micro-deformations along the entire length of underground cables. Its applications open up new possibilities for the country:
- Seismic and environmental monitoring: it makes it possible to “listen” to the ground, enabling early-warning systems that are essential for the safety of at-risk areas and critical infrastructure.
- Sustainability and efficiency: it enables real-time monitoring of environmental parameters and helps optimise consumption, for example by monitoring efficiency across energy distribution networks.