(Telecompaper) The European Commission has approved Italy's EUR 4 billion high-speed broadband plan, describing it as "in line with EU state aid rules". The announcement comes a month after Italian infrastructure firm Infratel launched the first tenders to bring fast internet access to digital divide areas in six regions, with more promised before summer. EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the plan "will help Italy to build the necessary infrastructure and contribute to creating a connected Digital Single Market in the EU". The country expects to minimise the use of state funds by encouraging bidders to use existing networks to the maximum extent possible, said the EC in a statement, adding that competition will be fostered by ensuring that the newly built infrastructure is open to all interested operators.