CEF – Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways – 2025

Objectives

• To support the deployment or upgrade of backbone networks, particularly submarine cable infrastructures that connect at least two Member States, that connect a Member State with one or several of its islands, outermost regions, or overseas countries and territories and that 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
• To 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

Among financed actions

• Studies
• Works
• Monitoring

Eligibility

• Be a legal person
• Be a public or private entity
• Be established in one of the eligible countries:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
  • Non-EU states: listed EEA countries and countries associated to the CEF Programme (Click here)

Additional information

• Initial duration of the action: 36 months
• Contact: HADEA-CEF-DIGITAL-CALLS@ec.europa.eu

Useful

• Guidelines: Click here
• Other call documents: Click here
• Executive Agency website: Click here
• More information: Click here

• Total budget of the call: 128 million euro
• Amount of the grant:
  • CEF-DIG-2024-GATEWAYS-WORKS: up to 20 million euro
  • CEF-DIG-2024-GATEWAYS-STUDIES: up to 5 million euro
• Funding rate:
  • up to 50% for the costs of studies
  • up to 70% for the costs of works in outermost regions
  • up to 30% for all other costs categories (‘project funding rate’)