(Telecompaper) Italian operator Fastweb has announced an expanded fibre-optic plan to bring high-speed broadband at speeds of up to 200 Mbps to 50 percent of the Italian population by 2020. Under its previous four year plan, the operator had committed to extending its fibre-optic coverage to 7.5 million households, or 30 percent of the Italian population, by the end of 2016. The new project increases the rollout to 13 million households and businesses in 500 cities in a total self-financed investment of EUR 500 million. Fastweb added that the first cities to be connected at speeds of up to 200 Mbps will be medium and small towns with the greatest need for ultra-broadband infrastructure, beginning with Arezzo, Viterbo, Riccione, Rimini, Trento, Massa, Pistoia and Caserta on 11 April, followed by additional launches in subsequent months, to reach the goal of 1 million homes with up to 200 Mpbs by the end of 2016 and 13 million homes by 2020.