Digital Divide Country Profile · Europe

Holy See

Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.

National digital inclusion context

A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.

This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Holy See in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.

The documented portfolio emphasizes Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure, Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure, Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure, 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI). The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.

Portfolio pattern

What the documented response contains.

Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.

Infrastructure and access

Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure4
Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure3
Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure2
Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure1
Technology-Enabled Connectivity Infrastructure1

Specific technologies

5G2
Artificial Intelligence (AI)2
Smartphone2
Tablet1
Wi-Fi1

Intervention classification

Infrastructure only6
Infrastructure and Specific Technology4
Neither explicitly identified3
Specific Technology only3

Education and workforce

Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.

0 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 3 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.

Access

Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.

Capability

Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.

Participation

Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.

Sustainability

Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.

Project and initiative portfolio

16 documented records

Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.

Data-network backbone

2026 Next-Generation Data Backbone

2026 implementation · Vatican City State

View details

Status / period2026 implementationLocationVatican City StatePopulationHoly See and Vatican institutionsOrganizationsGovernorate Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems

Replaces/strengthens the internal backbone to increase capacity, reliability and future service readiness.

Activities and approach: Next-generation data backbone equipment

Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure

Mobile coverage expansion

Castel Gandolfo Pontifical Villas Mobile Coverage Project

Design 2026 · Pontifical Villas, Castel Gandolfo

View details

Status / periodDesign 2026LocationPontifical Villas, Castel GandolfoPopulationStaff, visitors and institutional usersOrganizationsGovernorate Directorate; mobile operators

Designs new mobile coverage for a Vatican property outside the main state territory.

Activities and approach: Mobile network coverage

Mobile / Wireless InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access Infrastructure

Building connectivity infrastructure

Governorate Building Passive Network Infrastructure

2026 · Governorate building

View details

Status / period2026LocationGovernorate buildingPopulationInstitutional usersOrganizationsGovernorate Directorate

Creates new passive network infrastructure to support upgraded connectivity.

Activities and approach: Structured cabling/passive network

Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure

Digital public communication / outreach

Holy See Digital Screen Public Communication Network

Launched May 2026; expansion planned · Public digital screens in Rome and Milan with expansion planned

View details

Status / periodLaunched May 2026; expansion plannedLocationPublic digital screens in Rome and Milan with expansion plannedPopulationResidents, visitors and broader public audiencesOrganizationsDicastery for Communication; Selfiestreet

Extends official Vatican multimedia information beyond websites and broadcast channels into public digital displays.

Activities and approach: Daily digital-screen programming; video/images; special broadcasts

Digital communications infrastructure / public information

Integrated Holy See Digital Communications Network

Operational; continuously modernized · Holy See communications system

View details

Status / periodOperational; continuously modernizedLocationHoly See communications systemPopulationGlobal audiences, journalists, pilgrims and Church institutionsOrganizationsDicastery for Communication

Unifies formerly separate communications bodies and digital channels, widening timely access to official Vatican information.

Activities and approach: Vatican News; Vatican Media; Vatican Radio; Vatican Internet Service; digital archives; unified editorial systems

Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure

LAN modernization

Local Network Modernization Programme

2026 ongoing · Governorate and other Vatican facilities

View details

Status / period2026 ongoingLocationGovernorate and other Vatican facilitiesPopulationVatican employees and institutional usersOrganizationsGovernorate Directorate

Replaces active network equipment and modernizes local networks.

Activities and approach: LAN switches/network equipment

Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure

Workforce

Digital cultural access / immersive public service

St. Peter's Basilica AI-Enhanced Digital Experience

Launched Nov 2024; active for Jubilee and beyond · St. Peter's Basilica

View details

Status / periodLaunched Nov 2024; active for Jubilee and beyondLocationSt. Peter's BasilicaPopulationPilgrims, visitors, researchers and people unable to visit physicallyOrganizationsFabric of St. Peter; Microsoft; Iconem

Creates remote and enhanced access to a major cultural and religious site through a detailed digital twin and immersive tours.

Activities and approach: AI-enabled digital twin; photogrammetry; 3D reconstruction; virtual tours; digital exhibitions

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Accessible multilingual digital participation

St. Peter's Multilingual AI-Assisted Liturgical Translation Platform

Announced Feb 2026 / implementation planned · St. Peter's Basilica

View details

Status / periodAnnounced Feb 2026 / implementation plannedLocationSt. Peter's BasilicaPopulationPilgrims and worshippers speaking different languagesOrganizationsFabric of St. Peter; Dicastery for Communication; Translated

Reduces language barriers to participation by providing real-time translated audio and text on personal smartphones.

Activities and approach: QR-code access; real-time AI translation; audio/text; no app required

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Smartphone

ICT infrastructure modernization

Storage and Switching Technology Renewal

2026 · Vatican data/network infrastructure

View details

Status / period2026LocationVatican data/network infrastructurePopulationInstitutional usersOrganizationsGovernorate Directorate

Replaces ageing storage and switching technologies to reduce the technology gap and maintenance burden.

Activities and approach: Storage systems; network switching

Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure

Data-centre resilience

Three-Site Server Cluster Expansion

2026 · Three Vatican physical sites

View details

Status / period2026LocationThree Vatican physical sitesPopulationHoly See digital-service usersOrganizationsGovernorate Directorate

Adds server clusters across three sites to improve workload management and application resilience.

Activities and approach: Server clusters; data-centre redundancy

5G mobile broadband

TIM 5G Coverage in Vatican Territory

Completed 2025 · Vatican City State

View details

Status / periodCompleted 2025LocationVatican City StatePopulationMobile usersOrganizationsTIM; Governorate

Provides completed 5G mobile coverage by TIM across Vatican territory.

Activities and approach: 5G mobile network

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G

Public digital/media access and communication

Vatican Media Jubilee Hub in St. Peter's Square

Opened Jul 2025 · Braccio di Carlo Magno, St. Peter's Square

View details

Status / periodOpened Jul 2025LocationBraccio di Carlo Magno, St. Peter's SquarePopulationPilgrims, journalists and global audiencesOrganizationsDicastery for Communication; Vatican Media; Governorate

Creates a dedicated digital-media production and interaction point at the heart of Vatican public space during major events.

Activities and approach: Radio booth; live digital production; integrated Vatican News/Radio/Media operations

Mobile public information / accessible digital government

Vatican State Institutional Mobile App

Launched Jan 2026 · Vatican Governorate services and information

View details

Status / periodLaunched Jan 2026LocationVatican Governorate services and informationPopulationResidents, workers, pilgrims and visitorsOrganizationsGovernorate of Vatican City State

Improves mobile access to official information, notices and institutional services through a dedicated accessible app.

Activities and approach: Mobile app; push notifications; optimized smartphone/tablet navigation; institutional links

TabletSmartphone

Workforce

5G mobile broadband

Vodafone 5G Coverage Completion

Ongoing 2026 · Vatican City State

View details

Status / periodOngoing 2026LocationVatican City StatePopulationMobile usersOrganizationsVodafone; Governorate

Adds a second 5G operator footprint and improves mobile network choice/resilience.

Activities and approach: 5G mobile network

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G

Next-generation Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7 Upgrade Programme

2026 · Existing served zones

View details

Status / period2026LocationExisting served zonesPopulationInstitutional usersOrganizationsGovernorate Directorate

Upgrades selected Wi-Fi zones to Wi-Fi 7 for higher capacity and performance.

Activities and approach: Wi-Fi 7

Technology-Enabled Connectivity InfrastructureWi-Fi 7

Wireless access expansion

Wi-Fi Coverage Expansion to New Areas

2026 · Vatican City State

View details

Status / period2026LocationVatican City StatePopulationEmployees, institutions and authorized usersOrganizationsGovernorate Directorate

Extends Wi-Fi coverage to areas not previously served.

Activities and approach: Wi-Fi access points

Last-Mile / Access InfrastructureWi-Fi

Workforce

Evidence boundary

Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.

Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.

Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.

Evidence and contextProfile Sources

These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.

Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Holy See. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/holy-see-vatican-city/
International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Holy See. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=VA
World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Holy See. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=VA

Compare another country.

All country profiles →