Emerging patterns in telematic flows among European countries and peculiarities of the Italian case

The development of the Internet in Europe has witnessed extraordinary and rapid growth over the last few years. If, in general terms, this phenomenon is common among many countries it is also true that the rhythm of Internet penetration has nonetheless been quite different. This difference is even more pronounced when the analysis is extended beyond the EU Member States to Europe in its larger context, i.e. the composite regional macroeconomic system that, for cultural and commercial reasons, joins countries in an intense and significant relationship (including, in particular, the EFTA countries, Turkey and some East European countries). The paper seeks to verify whether - and to what degree - the relationships that currently exist on the Internet among these countries are such that they show the prerequisites of a network in which it is possible to identify a series of ties that define a clear hierarchical structure to this space. In conclusion the Italian case, which due to the disparities in the regional (north and central vs. south) diffusion of the phenomenon presents important peculiarities, will be dealt with in depth. The aim is to identify the causes and evaluate whether the liberalisation processes that are presently occurring in the telecommunications sector will, in future, result in a reduction or in a worsening of this national anomaly.