Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways - Studies

The expected benefits go beyond those directly related to supported projects and contribute to bridging the digital divide and ensuring widespread access to Gigabit networks for all EU citizens and businesses. Moreover, this connectivity infrastructure can cross-facilitate the implementation of other topics supported under CEF Digital, such as the availability of HPC-related facilities, etc.

The objective of this call is to support the deployment of strategic networks as part of the Digital Global Gateway Strategy of the EU, contributing to strengthen the quality of connectivity within the Union as well as with third countries.

Access to backbone connectivity in EU Member States may differ significantly. In certain regions a lack of adequate backbone connectivity may have an impact on the development of, and service provided by access networks, and may generate possible imbalances in the prices of services, both for network operators in these regions, as well as for the users.

This can be the case, for example, for Member States that are themselves islands and/or have islands as part of their territory. For some remote territories such as islands, Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories, commercial prices and other conditions of backbone connectivity may hinder the full participation of both users and enterprises in the digital European economy.

Furthermore, the infrastructures connecting remote territories may be ageing or insufficient, in particular concerning the security of the existing infrastructures, which poses risks to the resilience of those regions, both from an economic and social point of view, especially in case of insufficient redundancy and available capacity of other alternative infrastructures to connect the regions.

In such areas, market forces alone may not provide answers to all of these challenges. As a result, certain areas may remain underserved or experience higher prices for access to backbone connectivity, or be subject to vulnerabilities, linked to the absence of a redundant connectivity providing sufficient capacity to the targeted territories of the Gigabit connectivity.

The applicants should justify that their proposal provides the best technology suited for the call objectives, which may include submarine cables systems, terrestrial backbone networks and satellite infrastructure.

The supported networks may encompass segments aiming at connecting to internet exchange points as well as data centers.

This topic will support studies for the deployment of backbone connectivity for routes within Member States (including OCTs), between Member States (including OCTs), and between Member States (including OCTs) and third countries which can fit within the scope described in Section 2.1 (CEF-DIG-2024-GATEWAYS-WORKS).

Proposals under this topic shall address studies including the preparatory work required prior to signing a contract with a supplier, such as marine ground surveys for submarine cables and application for required permits.

Activities to be performed in the territory of third countries (target countries) or in international waters, are also eligible (article 16(a) of the CEF Regulation) if considered indispensable to the achievement of the objectives of a given project of common interest in line with CEF Regulation (Article 8 and Article 9(4) (d) and point 3 of Annex Part V of the CEF Annex regulation).

Beneficiaries can include (local) operators, utilities, (local) authorities, investors and vendors i.e., entities supplying hardware (including cables, equipment, devices) or systems (including software) that are essential for the performance of the action.

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