U.S. sailors and their families stationed at Sigonella, Sicily, soon will get upgraded Internet service for private use, base officials said.

The upgraded service, from 2 megabytes of bandwidth to 20 megabytes, also comes with a monthly price increase — from $34 a month to $46 a month.

Telecom Italia, which provides Internet service for subscribers at Naval Air Station Sigonella I and II and the housing units of Marinai and Mineo, will start installing and testing new equipment for individual residents who sign up for ADSL service. Telecom Italia personnel will go to homes and exchange the old systems, if applicable, for the upgraded Wi-Fi modem and activate the service. Telecom should be able to activate about 10 customers per day, said Lt.j.g. Matt Knight, the base spokesman.

Base officials expect the upgrade to be completed by the fall.

Earlier this year, base officials sought customer input to gauge customer interest, and received 83 inputs from the roughly 1,400 subscribers.

About 89 percent of respondents favored the upgrade, Knight said. Officials wanted users’ inputs because it is an all-or-nothing plan with all customers getting the 20-megabyte option. The upgrade will give Internet users webcam capabilities, the ability to view certain television programs and full-streaming video, and the ability to operate multiple Internet functions simultaneously, Knight said.

New customers will have to pay a $66 one-time, nonrefundable activation fee. However, the base communications office negotiated with Telecom the waiving of a second $33 installation fee for existing customers, Knight said.