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CEF digital work programme: 5G, cloud, cybersecurity

On 16 December, the European Commission unveiled the work programme for CEF digital. CEF digital is a funding initiative that will enhance connectivity in Europe. It aims to support the deployment of 5G, submarine cables, cloud and high-performance computing.

The European Commission underlines that CEF digital should strengthen cybersecurity and resilience. Therefore, project proposals shall comply with strict rules in terms of cybersecurity and sovereignty. The Commission notes that “[d]ependencies and vulnerabilities in digital connectivity infrastructures can open the door to increased foreign influence and control over key EU assets as well as over other critical infrastructures and essential services. This in turn can lead to disadvantageous knowledge transfers, disruption of services and long-term economic costs caused by cyber-attacks, and make Europe susceptible to undue foreign influence.”

The CEF Regulation (Article 11.4) states that legal entities established in third-countries and legal entities established in the EU but controlled by third countries may not be eligible to participate in all or some of the actions in the digital sector, for duly justified security reasons.

In addition, all works project proposals submitted shall have to include security declarations by participating companies which demonstrate the network technologies and equipment (incl. software and services) comply with security requirements as specified in the call conditions. The security declarations shall also include safeguards to avoid falling under foreign jurisdiction obligations or third country influence.

CEF digital will be running from 2021 to 2027. Funding will be delivered through grants and procurement.

Please find below the link to the work programme and a summary of some key actions.

5G

CEF digital will fund the deployment of 5G corridors in Europe. The calls should be launched soon and the deployment would start in 2023. A budget of 935 million euros is available for 2021-2027.

CEF digital will support the deployment of 5G in public administrations, healthcare centres, schools, including in rural areas (“5G smart communities”). A budget of 140,5 million euros is available for 2021-2027.

EU connectivity backbone infrastructures

CEF digital will support the deployment of the Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI). A budget of 200 million euros is available for 2021-2027.

The programme will also fund backbone networks for pan-European cloud federations. The European Commission observes that none of the pan-European cloud providers is European-owned. The main beneficiaries of this initiative will be public administrations, public and private entities entrusted with the operation of services of general interest, or entities that provide services of general economic interest. Services of general economic interest are activities that public authorities identify as being of particular importance to citizens. A budget of 199 million euros is available for 2021-2027.

CEF digital will also fund backbone connectivity projects, such as submarine cables, satellite ground stations etc.  A budget of 204 million euros is available for 2021-2027.

Lastly, CEF digital will support the interconnections between EuroHPC supercomputers, national High-Performance Computing and research centres, data infrastructures and participating countries with ultrafast connectivity.

For more details on planning and budget, please refer to pages 52 and 53 of the work programme.

Next steps

The first CEF digital calls will be opened in early January 2022.

If you have any questions on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact Camille Dornier - Policy Manager: camille.dornier@eurosmart.com