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European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
  • Call for proposals
  • Closed

Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways - Works

Details

Status
Closed
Reference
CEF-DIG-2022-GATEWAYS-WORKS
Publication date
12 October 2022 in Funding & tenders portal
Opening date
Deadline model
Single-stage
Deadline date
21 March 2023, 17:00 (CET)
Programme Sector
  • Digital
Programme
  • Connecting Europe Facility 2
Tags
  • Digital technology
  • Digital transformation
  • EUFunded
  • Proposals

Description

The objective of this call is to support the deployment of strategic networks as part of the Digital Global Gateway Strategy of the EU, contributing to strengthen the quality of connectivity within the Union as well as with third countries. This call is technology neutral. The applicants should justify that their proposal provides the best technology suited for the call objectives, which may include submarine cables systems, satellite infrastructures and connectivity to internet exchange points.

By supporting the targeted deployment of such connectivity, CEF Digital will have a positive impact not only on strengthening the connectivity capacity, but also on stimulating commercial offers of connectivity.

This topic will support 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:

(1) where there is a lack of redundancy on a route. This is typically the case of routes which are not served by at least two present or credibly planned backbone infrastructures; or

(2) where existing or credibly planned backbone infrastructure cannot reliably satisfy the demand, taking into account, if necessary, any increase in the demand linked to ongoing or credibly planned investments in the upgrade of access networks in the territories concerned. The utilisation of existing capacity as well as the expected lifetime of existing backbone networks are among the elements that may be taken into account to justify such a market failure and the urgency of intervention; or

(3) where despite the presence of a backbone infrastructure providing sufficient capacity and guaranteeing the necessary redundancy, in the absence of credible plans from alternative operators to enter the market, the users in the served territories suffer (or could suffer in the absence of adequate regulatory remedies) from suboptimal services or prices compared to those offered in more competitive but otherwise comparable areas or routes. This could be the case for instance if the backbone infrastructure or a substantial part of it is in the hands of an operator which according to a competent national regulatory authority has significant market power in the relevant market.