Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The Connecting Europe Facility is a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through infrastructure investment at European level.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The objective of this call is to support the deployment or significant upgrade of backbone networks – in particular submarine cables but also terrestrial backbone networks and satellite infrastructure – that address risks, vulnerabilities and dependencies in the EU backbone infrastructure
The 2 topics that opened for the submission of proposals, under the present call, are the following:
- Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways – Works – CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-WORKS.
- Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways – Studies – CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-STUDIES.
Detailed Call Description
The objective of this call is to support the deployment or significant upgrade of backbone networks – in particular submarine cables but also terrestrial backbone networks and satellite infrastructure – that address risks, vulnerabilities and dependencies in the EU backbone infrastructure.
Proposals should specify whether they contribute to the resilience and security of submarine cable connectivity in CPEI Areas 1-13 (except Areas 8 and 10), and in particular Areas 1-7 from the CPEI list published in February 2026, as projects with such characteristics will be scored positively under the evaluation criterion ”Priority and Urgency”.
The 2 topics that opened for the submission of proposals, under the present call, are the following:
Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways – Works – CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-WORKS. The objective of this topic is to support the deployment or significant upgrade of backbone networks – in particular submarine cables but also terrestrial backbone networks and satellite infrastructure – that address risks, vulnerabilities and dependencies in the EU backbone infrastructure. Proposals must meet one of the following conditions:
- connect at least two Member States. In the case of terrestrial backbones, only cross-border segments necessary to interconnect national backbones will be funded;
- connect a Member State with one or several of its islands, outermost regions, or overseas countries and territories;
- 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.
Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways – Studies – CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-STUDIES. This topic will support studies related to the deployment/significant upgrade of backbone networks that address risks, vulnerabilities and dependencies in the EU backbone infrastructure. Support will be given to studies for the deployment of backbone connectivity meeting one of the following conditions:
- connect at least two Member States. In the case of terrestrial backbones, only cross-border segments necessary to connect national backbones will be funded;
- connect a Member State with one or several of its islands, outermost regions, or overseas countries and territories;
- 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.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The total available budget under the present call is €180.000.000.
Project budgets (maximum grant amount) are expected to be up to €20.000.000 per project for the works topic and up to €5.000.000 per project for the studies topic.
In the following exceptional cases, proposals may benefit from a higher grant amount, not exceeding €60.000.000, in either or both of the following cases:
- proposals combining systems, still under development by different promoters, that achieve a greater geographical reach and avoid overlapping segments; applicants will have to demonstrate that earlier studies and works, developed or implemented separately, will be integrated in one single global project. In order to benefit from this higher grant amount, applicants will have to justify a greater impact (e.g. synergy leading to substantially higher geographical scale, etc.) and catalytic effect (e.g. synergy between different promoters resulting in substantial cost-efficiency gains).
- proposals whose scope is entirely and significantly contributing to one of the areas identified as CPEIs Stage 1. In order to benefit from this higher grant amount, applicants will have to justify a greater EU priority and urgency (underpinning a specific CPEI priority area) as well as high levels of maturity and quality. The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.
The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.
The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rates fixed in the Grant Agreement, maximum 50% for the costs of studies, maximum 70% for the costs of works in outermost regions, and maximum 30% for all other costs categories.
Projects should normally be up to 36 months.
Thematic Categories
- Information Technology
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- International Organisations
- Legal Entities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must be legal entities (public or private bodies) established in one of the Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs) or third countries associated to the CEF Programme (list of participating countries unless the topic is subject to specific restrictions.
For more information, see Guidance on participation in EU restricted calls with ownership and control restriction.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Department of Electronic Communications – State Department for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
Website: https://bit.ly/39IYcFZ
Address: 286 Strovolou Avenue, Strovolos, PO Box 24647, 1302 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22814854/22814846
Fax: +357 22321925
Email: info.dec@dec.dmrid.gov.cy