In a world where digital infrastructure has become as essential as roads and railways, the European Union is making significant strides to stay competitive and secure in the global digital race. While countries like the United States and China continue to push ahead with investments in 5G, quantum networks, and next-gen connectivity, Europe is responding with its own bold initiative: the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital Work Programme. This €865 million investment, spanning from 2024 to 2027, is more than just a European venture—it’s part of a broader geopolitical effort to secure digital sovereignty, reduce reliance on non-EU infrastructure, and ensure that Europe remains a key player in global digital leadership. Europe’s connectivity infrastructure

As the digital economy evolves, Europe must navigate a landscape where digital connectivity influences everything from trade routes to international alliances. By upgrading its infrastructure with cutting-edge technologies like 5G and quantum communication networks, the EU is not only future-proofing its digital landscape but also positioning itself to compete with other economic powerhouses. The stakes are high: the region’s ability to secure a fast, safe, and resilient digital backbone will directly impact its economic strength, technological innovation, and geopolitical standing in the decades to come. This programme is Europe’s strategic response to the challenges and opportunities of global digital transformation. Europe’s digital connectivity infrastructure

Europe’s 2030 Digital Decade objectives

Improving Europe’s connectivity infrastructure is fundamental for achieving Europe’s 2030 Digital Decade objectives to connect all citizens and businesses with 5G and gigabit connectivity. By fostering public and private investments, CEF Digital contributes to connectivity projects of common EU interest and to the deployment of safe, secure and sustainable high-performance infrastructure, such as Gigabit and 5G networks, across the EU.

The new CEF Digital Work Programme will support actions in the following areas:

1. The deployment of 5G infrastructures in Europe, co-financing large-scale projects promoting the rollout of Gigabit and standalone 5G infrastructures, as well as the integration of edge cloud and computing capabilities in vertical sectoral applications, such as health, manufacturing, transport, and logistics;
2. The deployment and significant upgrade of backbone networks, including quantum communication networks and submarine cables, to increase the performance, resilience, and capacity of connectivity networks within and between Member States, as well as between the Union and third countries;
3. The deployment of operational digital platforms for transport or energy infrastructures, by optimising the energy use of information and communication technology (ICT) and reducing its environmental impact. These operational digital platforms will build on and integrate with existing and emerging European data, cloud and edge computing, and connectivity infrastructures, funded by the Digital Europe Programme and Horizon Europe.

The second CEF Digital Work Programme will also help stimulate the competitiveness of the European digital ecosystem, in order to address the critical geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges highlighted, among others, by the White Paper “How to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?”.

CEF Digital also aims to increase the capacity, security, and resilience of digital backbone networks, in particular submarine cables. Moreover, it will contribute to leveraging public and private resources to tackle the investment gap that hinders the rollout of high-performance networks, essential for the take-up of advanced technologies by citizens and businesses.

Next Steps Europe’s digital connectivity infrastructure

The fourth call under the Connecting Europe Facility Digital programme will be launched in the following days. Interested stakeholders will also be able to attend info days after the launch to find out more about the priorities and main aspects of the calls, as well as the evaluation and award processes.

Background

With a budget of up to €2 billion until 2027, under the Connecting Europe Facility Digital programme, the first two sets of calls so far funded 65 projects, including 30 backbone connectivity projects for the Digital Global Gateways, 17 projects promoting 5G for Smart Communities, and 18 projects in the area of 5G cross-border corridors.

CEF Digital supports Europe’s digital transformation and it is part of the overall Connecting Europe Facility programme, which supports investment in trans-European digital, transport, and energy networks, worth €33.7 billion from 2021 to 2027. Europe’s digital connectivity infrastructure

Final thoughts

The second CEF Digital Work Programme is a critical step toward cementing Europe’s leadership in digital innovation and connectivity. By addressing the infrastructural needs for high-speed, resilient networks, this initiative will enhance the continent’s digital autonomy while driving competitiveness in key sectors like health, transport, and energy. As Europe prepares for a digitally-driven future, the investments made today will play a pivotal role in overcoming geoeconomic challenges and securing a robust digital ecosystem. With strong public-private collaboration, CEF Digital will be instrumental in creating an interconnected, secure, and sustainable digital environment that benefits both citizens and businesses, positioning Europe as a global leader in the digital age.

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