Case Study: Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation achieves scalable, centrally-managed 10Gb Wi‑Fi and accelerated digital skills adoption with HPE Aruba Networking

Centrally-managed wireless connectivity helps Fondazione per la Scuola close the digital skills gap in Italian schools

Fondazione per la Scuola / Compagnia di San Paolo launched Riconnessioni to close the digital skills gap in Italian primary and lower‑secondary schools by delivering centrally managed, high‑performance Internet and Wi‑Fi with minimal on‑site IT. The challenge was to provision secure, scalable connectivity and a network‑as‑a‑service for hundreds of schools (96,000 students in phase one) and create a repeatable model for national roll‑out.

Using Aruba hardware and Aruba Central cloud management (APs, controllers, switches, ClearPass and Dynamic Segmentation) the foundation implemented Zero‑Touch provisioning to standardise and speed deployments. The project has established connectivity in 20–26 schools, upgraded school access to 10Gb, enabled schools to go online within two days, and supported teacher training (reaching an estimated 60% of staff) and measurable gains in digital competency, while creating a framework for wider national expansion.

Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation

Marcello Maggiora

Head of Technology & Digital Strategy