ROME (Reuters) - Poste Italiane plans to invest 1.2 billion euros to remodel 7,000 outlets across Italy, with the aim of facilitating access to online public services for the older population in small towns.

Poste has indicated that it will draw on a state-funded fund worth 800 million euros and add another 400 million from its own funds to renovate thousands of post offices, paying particular attention to municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.

The aging population has made it difficult to adopt new technologies in the public administration, which has introduced a digital identity system that uses a username and password to allow users to access services.

The renovated post offices will include 4,000 locations from which to obtain documents such as ID cards and passports or access the land registry.

Outdoor spaces and co-working areas will also be built as part of the project, which aims to renovate 1,500 offices by the end of the year.

(Translated by Chiara Scarciglia, editing Claudia Cristoferi)