FiberCop to Convert Copper Exchanges into Edge Data Center Network Across Italy

Italian wholesale fixed network provider FiberCop has unveiled plans to build more than 100 Edge data centers across the country, repurposing its legacy copper exchanges into distributed computing hubs. The initiative marks a significant shift for the company as it moves beyond traditional telecommunications infrastructure to support the growing demand for low-latency computing and artificial intelligence applications.

The first Edge data center has already been activated in Rome, with additional facilities slated to open shortly in Genoa, Bologna, Palermo, Turin, and Naples. These sites, housed in former telecommunications exchanges, are designed to bring computing power closer to end users and data sources, reducing latency for critical applications such as healthcare, security, mobility, and public administration. FiberCop has not disclosed the collective compute capacity of the network, but a company spokesperson confirmed that individual sites will support capacities of up to 1MW, tailored to operational requirements and environmental sustainability goals.

“Our exchanges are moving from network access points to become true innovation hubs, in which connectivity, computing power and storage capacity are integrated to support the country's digital development,” said Massimo Sarmi, chairman and CEO of FiberCop. “With this plan, FiberCop takes a further step forward in transforming its network infrastructure into an enabling technology platform, capable of supporting the growth of the Edge cloud, artificial intelligence and new digital services.”

The conversion of copper exchanges reflects a broader industry trend as fiber-optic networks render legacy infrastructure obsolete. FiberCop, founded in 2014, manages a 28-million-kilometer fiber-optic cable network and operates 10,500 exchanges across Italy. The company’s move into Edge computing follows successful trials of Edge cloud solutions in December 2025 and represents its first major foray into the data center market.

FiberCop is not alone in this strategy. Telefónica España announced similar plans in January 2026 to convert its copper exchanges into 17 Edge data centers, activating five nodes in Madrid, Bilbao, Seville, Valencia, and A Coruña the following month. In the United States, Ziply has also repurposed old copper facilities into colocation sites. Meanwhile, other operators such as Telstra in Australia and Telus in Canada have opted to redevelop their exchanges into residential buildings, and several BT/Openreach sites in the UK are being converted into hotels.

The proliferation of Edge data centers is expected to play a pivotal role in enabling AI-driven services that require real-time processing near the network edge. By leveraging existing infrastructure, FiberCop aims to accelerate digital transformation across Italy while optimizing costs and energy efficiency. The company’s expansion into this space underscores the growing convergence of telecommunications and data center operations, positioning it to compete in an increasingly distributed computing landscape.