5G coverage along transport corridors - Works

CEF Digital funding is expected to move forward and accelerate large-scale deployment of 5G corridors to support the adoption of CAM, including driving with higher levels of automation and the digitalisation of rail operations as well as other relevant modes of transport. Funding may also support the deployment of Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) and trackside and associated on-board equipment related to critical automatic train control systems and applications (ETCS and/or ATO).

By closing the deployment gaps and removing capacity bottlenecks and technical barriers, the deployment of 5G corridors would contribute to strengthening the social, economic, and territorial cohesion in the EU.

This topic aims to support an early wave of deployment actions for 5G systems deployment along transport paths for connected and automated mobility (CAM) including safety and non-safety services. These may encompass roads, rail, and inland waterways, and if appropriate in combination with other modes of transport based on early preparatory work that already started before the submission of the proposal. Unlike for the other subsequent waves, applicants will not be able to rely on prior CEF-funded inception studies; nevertheless, the results of preparatory works providing a basis for deployment plans are expected to be included in the proposal, building on other types of studies or on the basis of results generated by ongoing R&I 5G cross-border corridor trial projects conducted across the EU under Horizon 2020.

The goal is to start leveraging the needed private investment in order to establish a full pan-European road and railway network of 5G corridors by the end of the CEF programme (2027).

In parallel to this call, the Commission is launching a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), which aims at achieving 5G edge cloud integration and thus support and provide assistance in this area.

This topic targets actions that support investments in challenging areas, where market forces alone will not deliver 5G services with the necessary quality of service, and focus on the provision of such connectivity along key European transport paths including, but not limited to, the indicative list of 5G corridors in the Annex part V of the CEF Regulation. The priority for the first three years of this work programme, including this call, will be to support investment in cross-border sections involving two or more Member States, with a co-funding rate of 50%.

In case of co-funding by national funds (i.e., Cohesion Funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility - RRF), State aid rules within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU (see section 10 of the Work Programme for details) apply.

Applicants may apply for grants for works, including studies, related to project costs covering the following categories:

• Deployment of passive network elements including civil works, e.g. ducts, dark fibre, 5G radio station, mast and pylons.
• Deployment and installation of active network elements, e.g. antennae, storage and computing capabilities such as network controllers, routers, switch, exchanges, edge MEC/node etc.
• Deployment and installation of specific track side devices (e.g. road, rail) for connected and automated mobility use cases, such as sensors, cameras etc. for traffic monitoring purposes, including connected road-side units.
• Preparatory works, including network planning.

The 5G connectivity infrastructure deployment proposed for funding under this call may encompass both passive and active network elements along transport paths that cross at least one border between two Member States.

The corridor length foreseen for deployment or study on both/all sides of the border may vary, depending on national circumstances including the length of TEN-T comprehensive networks in the relevant Member State, means of transport, geographic situation, and maximum size of the project/EU funding.

Proposals concerning the same Member State may include cross-border sections of 5G corridors with other Member States representing up to 15% of the total length of all the TEN-T comprehensive corridors of the same category (road, rail or waterways) in the Member State concerned by the proposal. In the presence of a demonstrated market failure, longer cross-border sections (i.e. beyond the above mentioned 15% threshold) as well as sections located inside of a Member State territory could be considered. This possibility may be particularly relevant in the case of Member States where the length of TEN-T comprehensive corridors is limited.

The above 15% threshold or the need to justify the presence of a market failure do not apply to proposals designed as market-conform interventions.

Please consult the Call document for more information on the scope, including digital security requirements.