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European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
CEF Digital - header
About Connecting Europe Facility – Digital

Discover the programme

€1.6 billion
To be implemented by HaDEA between 2021-2027
€800 million
For 5G coverage along transport corridors
€389 million
For Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways
75
Projects awarded so far
€142 million
For 5G for Smart Communities
€100 million
For Backbone networks for pan-European cloud federations

The digital strand of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) is part of the second generation of the Connecting Europe Facility. CEF-Digital aims to leverage public and private investments in digital connectivity infrastructures of common European interest.

Investing in cross-border connectivity will continue playing a key role in Europe’s transformation and its competitiveness.

Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age and Competition
  1. 22 October 2024
    Call 4 opening
  2. 12 November 2024
    Call 4 info day
  3. 13 February 2025
    Call 4 closing
  4. Autumn 2025
    Call 4 results

Call 4 Open 

Find out more information on CEF Digital 4th call for proposals and apply here by 13 February 2025 17.00. 

You can also watch the recording and access the presentation offrom the Info Day held on 12 November 2024. For further inquiries, feel free to contact us at HADEA-CEF-DIGITAL-CALLSatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (HADEA-CEF-DIGITAL-CALLS[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu.) 

 


 

The part of CEF Digital managed by HaDEA provides grants in the following areas:

5G coverage along transport corridors

Funding 5G coverage along transport paths such as roads and railways to leverage further investments and establish a pan-European transport network of 5G corridors. In the framework of the second Work Programme, this topic transitions to 5G Large Scale Pilots – 5G coverage along transport corridors, supporting the deployment of large scale 5G stand-alone infrastructures along key European transport paths and the TEN-T network corridor. 

5G and Edge Cloud for Smart Communities

Supporting the early 5G deployment and edge infrastructure to enable cases for socio-economic drivers, such as public administrations, healthcare centres, schools and other education and training institutions and make them “smarter”. In the framework of the second Work Programme, this topic transitions to 5G large scale pilots – 5G and Edge Cloud for Smart Communities, supporting the deployment of large scale stand-alone 5G networks and their integration with edge cloud infrastructures enabling innovative applications in n areas such as healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and education. 

Backbone networks for pan-European cloud federations

CEF Digital supports the deployment of cross-border and national cloud, edge and HPC infrastructure interconnections at both the physical (i.e. very high-capacity networks) and functional levels (i.e. DNS resolution) to enable distributed, secure, energy-efficient and high-speed infrastructure and cloud services for EU citizens and businesses. 

Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways

Supporting the deployment of l backbone networks within and between Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories and Outermost Regions) as well as between the EU and third countries, to strengthen the quality and resilience of connectivity between EU countries and beyond. 

Quantum communication infrastructure (EuroQCI)

Promoting quantum communication infrastructure interconnections to build an integrated satellite and terrestrial system spanning the whole EU for ultra-secure exchange of cryptographic keys. 

Operational Digital Platforms

Supporting hardware and software infrastructures to promote real-time exchange of data in the energy and transport sectors across European Union.

 

News

  • News article

One of the key contributions of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Telecom programme over its 10 years lifespan has been the development of technological solutions driven by the availability of public data. Discover the SPOTTED project, part of the public open data portfolio managed by HaDEA.

  • 1 min read

More information