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The Italian green transition is focusing on digital infrastructure, with telecom operators forming alliances with energy companies to leverage opportunities. A report from Join-I-Com highlights that energy is becoming integral to communication networks and cloud platforms, while telcos are evolving into infrastructure operators within the energy sector.

Global electricity consumption by data centers is expected to double, reaching 945 TWh by 2030, impacting Italy, which anticipates a 78% increase in IT power capacity by 2027. Despite rising data traffic, energy consumption has only risen by 2.8%, driven by efficiency improvements.

Telcos are converting passive infrastructure into active energy nodes, with significant growth in solar installations. The shift towards intelligent Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and the potential for data centers to act as virtual batteries presents new opportunities.

Furthermore, the emergence of Renewable Energy Communities allows telcos to play a crucial role in urban and rural energy management. Regulatory challenges remain, but telcos must lead in defining sustainable energy standards and practices.