(Telecompaper) Italy's Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) has announced a new EUR 400 million plan to boost takeup of high-speed fibre services at schools throughout the country. The aim is to equip 81.4 percent of Italy's schools, equivalent to a total of 32,213 buildings, with fibre-optic equipment that guarantees download speeds of at least 100Mbps and up to 1Gbps within the next two years. In addition to the structural costs, the funds made available also cover connectivity costs for up to 5 years, said the ministry.