The European Commission launches three calls to enhance advanced connectivity

The European Commission, through the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), has this week launched three significant calls under CEF Digital, a programme in which Zabala Innovation boasts a 75% success rate. These initiatives focus on the development and deployment of key technologies for the future of connectivity in Europe: key digital connection points, 5G infrastructure, and quantum communication. Proposals competing for a share of the €323 million budget must be submitted by 13 February 2025.

CEF Digital calls 2024, centred on technological innovation, aim to drive projects that position Europe as a global leader in advanced connectivity and the development of new digital infrastructures. The opportunities are aimed at both the public and private sectors, with the goal of fostering collaboration between countries and industrial sectors in strategic areas for the Old Continent.

“With these three new calls, the European Commission reaffirms its commitment to strengthening digital infrastructures across the Union,” emphasises Jaume Cot, leader of the European Programmes team at Zabala Innovation. “The deployment of backbone connections, primarily through submarine and terrestrial cables, and autonomous 5G networks, along with the development of quantum communication technologies, represent essential milestones to ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of the next digital revolution. These initiatives will not only accelerate technological innovation but will also promote collaboration among member states. This approach is crucial for consolidating a more competitive, connected, and resilient European Union in a rapidly evolving global environment,” he adds.

Backbone connectivity for digital global gateways

The aim of this call is to support the deployment or upgrading of backbone networks as part of the Global Digital Gateway Strategy, contributing to enhancing the quality of connectivity within the EU and between member states and third countries.

With €128 million allocated for this call, the European Commission will finance the construction of infrastructures that meet the connectivity needs of a region or the EU as a whole, integrating complementary routes that enhance redundancy and include advanced technological solutions. Projects demonstrating clear benefits in cost efficiency and synergies among involved parties are encouraged.

Works and studies

This call focuses on:

• Routes lacking redundancy, meaning there are not at least two existing or planned backbone infrastructures.
• Existing infrastructure that cannot meet growing demand.
• Suboptimal services or pricing for users, despite sufficient backbone infrastructure.
• Additionally, preparatory studies for the deployment of these backbone networks will be supported.

In the period from 2021 to 2023, Zabala Innovation secured 13% of the funds available for Works for its clients.

5G large-scale pilots

The first of these calls focuses on the deployment of standalone 5G infrastructures, which are capable of operating independently of previous technologies like 4G networks. Through approximately €105 million in grants, this initiative encourages the creation of infrastructures that enable data processing close to where it is generated (edge computing), improving speed and efficiency.

This type of autonomous network will foster the development of new applications in sectors such as health, agriculture, manufacturing, education, mobility, and transport. Projects must demonstrate how 5G can enable innovative use cases requiring high reliability, security, low latency (i.e., extremely fast response times), symmetrical communication (equal data sending and receiving capacity), and high performance.

Financial support in two phases

The financial support for the 5G Large Scale Pilots call will be structured in two phases. Firstly, a grant call will be launched for proposals supporting large-scale pilot projects focused on standalone 5G connectivity. These pilots must align with one of the aforementioned sectors, demonstrating how this technology can transform key industries.

In the second phase, the European Commission, through the InvestEU programme, will mobilise private investments to further support additional standalone 5G projects. The intention is to scale the initiatives funded in the first phase, aiming to implement 5G applications in companies and industries with high digital demand, such as those operating in high-tech sectors or requiring significant connectivity and data processing capabilities.

Two strategic areas

In the 5G large-scale pilots, two strategic areas have been defined. The first, 5G coverage along transport corridors – Works, is aimed at deploying 5G networks along key transport routes in Europe, especially along the corridors of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The priority will be to fund projects covering cross-border sections, involving two or more EU member states.

The second area, called 5G and edge for smart communities – Works, focuses on creating 5G networks to advance smart communities. Projects within this category are expected to drive the evolution of existing infrastructures towards virtualised and cloud-based solutions, fostering the creation of autonomous 5G networks that can integrate with edge computing infrastructures. These networks will facilitate the development of innovative applications across various European sectors, as well as in public services and more efficient operational models.

Quantum communication infrastructure

The second call aims to develop quantum communication infrastructures between EU member states. “This is an emerging technology that, through the laws of quantum mechanics, promises unprecedented security in communications,” explains Adirán De Aguirre, a consultant at Zabala Innovation and expert in CEF Digital. “This technology could be key in critical sectors such as defence, finance, and international trade, where information protection is paramount. Furthermore, its development, driven by initiatives like the new calls under the CEF Digital programme, could position Europe as a leader in this strategic field,” he reiterates.

The aim of this call, with a budget of €90 million, is to support the deployment of national quantum communication infrastructures that are already underway or have planned deployment. Additionally, it seeks to encourage the creation of cross-border links between at least two EU countries, or interconnections through space segments, that is, via satellites.

Proposal requirements

Proposals submitted under this call must include a detailed plan regarding the ownership of the infrastructure once the project is completed, as well as the mechanisms in place for service provision. They must also clearly define the operational relationships among the various participants in the value chain, that is, how the different actors involved will collaborate to ensure the success of the quantum infrastructure.

To facilitate participation, the European Commission will provide applicants with the specifications of the optical ground stations compatible with the Eagle-1 demonstrator satellites and the first generation of the EuroQCI system, developed under the ESA’s SAGA programme. This data will be crucial for participants to adapt their projects to the standards required by these emerging technologies.

What is the CEF?

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) primarily aims to foster investment in trans-European networks. It focuses on facilitating cross-border connections through modern and efficient infrastructures spanning multiple modes of transport. In the digital realm, the CEF is dedicated to promoting projects of common interest related to the development of secure digital networks and improving access to them.

This programme also seeks to reinforce the resilience and capacity of digital backbone networks within the European Union, connecting them with surrounding regions. It also emphasises the digitalisation of transport and energy infrastructures, thereby contributing to the growth and modernisation of the essential networks for the well-being and progress of the European continent.