What is the TIX?
The TIX, acronym for the "Tuscany Internet eXchange",
is an initiative of the Tuscan
Regional Telematics Network, focused on improving the telecommunications
infrastructure of Tuscany by drawing together the participation of
sector players, and to provide the technical framework for the management
and provision of electronic government services for the community and
businesses.
The TIX has been designed to achieve a series of objectives, with special focus on the following:
- the establishment of a Service Centre for the Tuscan Regional Telematics Network (RTRT network), which aims at guaranteeing the quality of the services provided, and the creation of a Help Desk;
- the creation of a centre for application sharing between the RTRT network participants;
- the creation of a service centre and exchange point for the Community Network of Regions, designed to contribute to the realisation of the National Civil Service Network;
- activation of a Neutral Access Point (NAP) connecting the Tuscan Regional Telematics Network and local networks serving the Tuscan territory and run by private-sector providers (ISPs or "Internet Service Providers").
The realisation and management of the TIX by the Tuscany Region falls within the regional e-government programme better known as e-Toscana, in particular, within the infrastructure action programme.
The TIX has been created and promoted by the Tuscany Region in partnership with the Centre of Excellence for Media Communications and Integration of the University of Florence, and the Informatics and Telecommunications Institute of the Italian National Research Council.