News
At this year’s Submarine Networks EMEA event, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) showcased many of the projects funded by the first round of its Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital programme, as well as sharing guidance on how potential applicants can apply for funding
First announced back in 2021, the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital Programme aims to leverage both private and public funding to support the digital infrastructure projects across the bloc.
CEF Digital will improve, secure, and nurture innovation via numerous connectivity infrastructure projects, spanning from gigabit-capable fixed networks to 5G mobile networks, and even submarine cable systems across Europe. These actions will receive more than €1 billion in funding between 2021 and 2023, with HaDEA managing more than €710 million.
The first set of calls for proposals was launched in January 2022 with a total budget of €258 million earmarked for five calls. Under the call on Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways, HaDEA manages the following projects:
Works (Total EU contribution: €64.4 million)
- Build the future Canary Islands submarine cable connection
- LDV – Interconnection and Colocation Center
- Digital Gateway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean
- Submarine cable connecting Mauritania to Portugal and Europe
- Submarine cable system between Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in Canary Islands
- Submarine cable between Marseille (France) and Bizerte (Tunisia).
Studies (Total EU contribution: €17.6 million)
- Portugal Ireland Spain Connecting Europe Subsea
- Black Sea Landing Point
- Tusass Connect 1
- Resilient Stockholm Archipelago Backbone
- Study to deploy new submarine cables in Canary Islands
- West European Coast Festoon
- Planning of development of the autonomous digital backbone and connecting Europe with global strategic partners
The conference saw the European Commission’s Head of Unit, Investment in High-Capacity Networks, DG Connect, Franco Accordino explore some of these projects in a News in Brief session. He also later spoke on a panel session focussed on funding subsea infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
If you want to learn more about these projects and how to apply for EU funding, click here
Also in the news:
Tusass: Connecting Greenland’s remote communities
Watchdog hits Eir with €2.45m fine for overcharging customers
SENSE: Nokia and Citymesh launch national drone network in Belgium
