History of the Internet Service Provider

The service of providing the Internet falls under the responsibilities of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, and is structured as follows:

• Administration and Support
• Exercise
• Planning
• Security Operation Centre

The Service was launched at the end of the 1990s as the “Internet Office of the Holy See”, bringing Vatican City State into the Global Internet Network and the resulting in the technological evolution of the State.

With the Internet service came the acquisition of the domain name, “.va”, the development of electronic mail, the State’s first portal, www.vatican.va and many other services that are still provided today.

The skills and infrastructures of the Internet Service Provider grew with time and were always at the forefront of key events,  starting with the 2000 Jubilee, at the time of the first real boom of modern-day internet, and continuing beyond.

Currently, the bandwidth and quick access to internet content are guaranteed by connections with international operators, with the Italian Internet Exchange Point (NaMeX), with the GARR network and various direct peering connections with other large networks.

Another point of excellence of the Service is the Security Operation Centre, which oversees cybersecurity protection from malicious activities.