Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways - Works

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.

Additionally, the use of data from “smart” cables could have a positive impact for the society in other policy areas such as environmental monitoring (particularly for the climate change), civil protection (for major incidents such as earthquakes and tsunamis).

Key performance indicators for this topic will include: i) the total length of the backbone or, for wireless solutions, the distance between transmission/reception stations, and ii) the additional (significant) transmission capacity created as a result of the projects supported by CEF. For submarine cables the number of fibre pairs, the current capacity per fibre pair, as well as the technology chosen and whether the system is repeated or unrepeated should be mentioned in the proposal, too.

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.

CEF Digital will support the deployment or upgrade of backbone networks, particularly submarine cable infrastructures, that meet any of the following conditions:

1. connect at least two Member States;
2. connect a Member State with one or several of its islands, outermost regions, or overseas countries and territories;
3. connect one or several Member States and third countries, including accession and neighbourhood countries, directly, or indirectly via other cable infrastructures linked to the Union.

CEF Digital will not support projects that concern routes already served by at least two present or credibly planned submarine cables capable to deliver performances matching the current and foreseeable demand and compliant to EU security standards, in particular regarding ownership and high risk suppliers as described in section 8 of the CEF Digital Work Programme. Only in projects concerning territories (e.g. small islands, hard to reach mountainous regions or territories with limited population density) where backbone connectivity needs can be served using satellite infrastructure, will this technology be taken into account when assessing the lack of redundancy.

In case of co-funding from national funds (including Cohesion Funds), State aid rules apply (see section 10 of the Work Programme for details).

The proposed project should be self-standing by providing connectivity according to the objectives of the call, even if the action is part of or will contribute to a wider objective (e.g. a section of a longer cable). The proposal will be evaluated on the basis of its specific objectives as well as its potential contribution to the wider system (existing or credibly planned).

For works, the total project costs required to construct and deliver the described networking solution for the foreseen system lifetime, from end to end, including cable landing stations and the connectivity towards them are covered by the scope of this call. In the case of satellite backbone solutions, only the costs linked to the construction of satellite ground stations and their interconnection with local networks are within the scope of the call. Furthermore, the proposal should justify the planned satellite constellation infrastructure on which the ground station will rely upon so that the sustainability, security and resilience of the end-to-end connectivity is also evaluated.

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