WIND, the leading integrated fixed-mobile-Internet communications services operator

Wind was the first to launch MMS and video over GPRS handsets: one of the earliest services to be made available was the first ever pocket news broadcast via videostreaming.
Wind was the first in Italy to launch a trading on line service via WAP. New technologies such as WAP and GPRS, UMTS, make a substantial contribution to the creation of new services and applications. Wind offers a particularly wide range of data transmission and Internet services, capable of satisfying the needs of all segments of the corporate market. In February 2001, Wind became the first alternative operator of fixed-line telephony in Italy to provide access to local loop unbundling, offering the possibility to make fixed-line calls without the need to pay any form of line rental. Wind was the first Italian operator, in May 2002, to launch Number Portability, enabling customers to switch operator whilst keeping their existing telephone number.

In fixed-line telephony, Wind confirmed its status as the leading alternative to the former incumbent for the activation of a new telephone line. By directly choosing Infostrada as their operator, without involving Telecom, from November 2005 users have been able to set up a new line at a highly competitive price.

In 2006 Wind expanded its convergent fixed-Internet product offering, with the introduction of Libero Absolute ADSL, offering bundled domestic calls with only a call-set up charge and a 7Mbit broadband Internet connection for a flat monthly rate. Wind’s broadband strategy proved successful owing to the synergy between the connectivity offered by Libero ADSL, with a speed of up to 20 Mbps and thus consolidating Wind’s position as the best value for money broadband provider, and the content provided by Libero.it, Italy’s leading portal in terms of page views.

In October 2005 Libero launched the ADSL2+ access network, a new technology offering a considerable increase in connection speed and quality and, consequently, a marked improvement in the fruition of services, especially of the multimedia type, such as audio and video applications.

Wind was issued with a new ISO 14001 certificate for the three-year period 2003-2005, following its certification in December 2000. Wind is also one of the first telecommunications companies worldwide to have had its Integrated Management System for Quality, Environment, Safety and Social Responsibility certified, in this case by DNV (Det Norske Veritas), a leading certification company.

The Wind Group has chalked up other firsts: from over 19,486 kilometres of optical fibre backbone to 4,237 kilometres of MAN. The company also boasts an extensive and innovative mobile network consisting of 11,815 radio base stations. Coverage outside Italy is provided by more than 440 roaming agreements.