The new law will reduce costs, boost local software enterprises, and encourage experimentation and innovation, Dadea said. Another of its articles calls for the creation of a partnership between the Sardinian Research Agency and local businesses, academic institutions and the regional civil service in order to promote the development of an information society by harnessing locally available information technology skills.

"This bill is not aimed against anybody and it will not introduce rigidities into the system," Dadea insisted. He said the text made Sardinia a legislative pioneer and had provided inspiration for proposals now being put forward at the national level by the opposition Democratic Party.

The president of the Sardinian regional government, Tiscali founder Renato Soru, had taken a close interest in the proposals, Dadea said. "He provided an important input, as it’s well-known that President Soru is very interested in the development of the information society and the reduction of the digital divide," he said. Dadea denied any idea that Soru could face a conflict of interests between his political and business roles. "Soru is not a software producer," he said.

When Soru was elected four years ago, just 25 percent of Sardinia’s town councils and 60 percent of the population had access to the Internet, Dadea said. With support from the regional government, broadband access has now been made available to 66 percent of town councils and 85 percent of the population.

"By next spring our Internet project should be completed, and all regional institutions will have broadband access," Dadea said. "Sardinia will be Italy’s first 100 percent digital region."