In 1946, after World War II, a democratic republic replaced the monarchy, and an economic revival followed. Italy is a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification.
Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.
It joined the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999 It enjoys a strategic location, dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe.
Facts and Figures
National Name
:
Repubblica Italiana
Size
:
Total surface area of 301.230 km sq
Population
:
58,103.033
Capital
:
Rome
Main Religion
:
Roman Catholics (81.4%) and Muslim (6.9%)
Language
:
French
Monetary Unit
:
Euro
Unemployment
:
11.5%
Inflation
:
0.7%
Climate
:
Cool summers and mild winters in the north; continental in the south
Economy
Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less developed, welfare-dependent agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most raw materials needed by industry and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported.
Over the past decade, Italy has pursued a tight fiscal policy in order to meet the requirements of the Economic and Monetary Unions and has benefited from lower interest and inflation rates. The current government has enacted numerous short-term reforms aimed at improving competitiveness and long-term growth.
This capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less developed agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. In comparison to its western European neighbours, it has a high number of small to medium sized enterprises ( SMEs ).
Italy has moved slowly, however, on implementing needed structural reforms, such as lightening the high tax burden and overhauling Italy's rigid labor market and over-generous pension system, because of the current economic slowdown and opposition from labor unions. But the leadership faces a severe economic constraint: the budget has breached the 3% EU deficit ceiling.
Telecommunications Infrastructure
The French Telephone system is very highly developed and based on extensive cable and microwave radio relay. France Telecom and others, like Equant, (today a subsidiary of France Telecom) have heavily invested in the extensive implementation of fiber-optic cable and a domestic satellite system. The international interconnection is done by satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries.
Industries
Tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Telecommunications Infrastructure
The telecommunication network is modern, well-developed and fa st. It consists of fully automated telephone, telex, and data services, with high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks.
Information 
