Milan, December 11, 2023 - Fastweb purchased 31 NVIDIA DGX H100 systems to be installed in one of Fastweb’s next-generation datacentres in Lombardy, fully powered with renewable sources. The system, that utilizes the latest NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD reference architecture and features 248 NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs, is expected to be operational by the first half of 2024.
Thanks to this investment, Fastweb can use the highly performant NVIDIA DGX H100 cluster for artificial intelligence, which will be made available in the cloud as an IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) to its customers for the development of AI and generative AI applications.
Fastweb will leverage NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, to develop and deploy the first large language model (LLM) natively trained in the Italian language. A group of generative AI experts will work through deep learning systems to develop an LLM based on large sets of data in the Italian language. This new LLM will be a nation-specific platform for the development by Fastweb and third parties of an extensive range of generative AI applications. It will be capable of capturing the nuances of the Italian language, as well as the specifics of its grammar, context and cultural identity.
The combination of NVIDIA DGX H100 systems, the national LLM and Fastweb’s cloud and cybersecurity infrastructures will make available an end-to-end system through which companies, public administration, startups and other players will be able to develop generative AI applications for any vertical – from healthcare to education and mobility. It relies on the robust and secure management of data – which is stored in data centres within the national borders – transparent LLM governance, and compliance with all national and EU policies.
“With this strategic investment, Fastweb strengthens its vocation as an enabler of the country’s digital transformation and creates the foundation to develop AI-based services with a national and sustainable approach,” declared Fastweb CEO Walter Renna. “We will make available to our enterprise customers, public administrations and the entire Italian ecosystem a high-performing, transparent and explainable system for the development of gen AI applications.”
“As the industry turns its focus toward cloud computing, the telcos of tomorrow will not just be providers of connectivity,” said Ronnie Vasishta, SVP of Telecom at NVIDIA. “Fastweb’s investment in the digital transformation of Italy is a profound step toward bringing powerful, efficient and localized computing to AI pioneers in the country.”
Consistent with its approach, based on developing infrastructures, and building on its initiative to disseminate knowledge and skills, Fastweb Digital Academy will launch in 2024 basic and advanced courses centred around AI to allow everyone to get on par with the deep transformation AI is driving across all economic sectors.