The Connecting Europe Facility Digital (CEF-Digital) programme is taking significant strides to bolster Europe’s digital infrastructure. Since 2021, this programme has channelled €615 million into 75 projects across 18 EU countries and overseas territories. These initiatives aim to drive private investment in digital infrastructure, provide high-speed connectivity, and ensure the EU’s network sovereignty.
This year, CEF-Digital continues its mission. It has launched two new funding calls open until June 30, 2026. The first, with a budget of €180 million, supports the deployment of backbone networks, such as submarine and terrestrial fibre networks. This aims to address security risks and improve resilience in the EU’s core digital framework. The second, offers €20 million to enhance existing submarine cables with SMART (Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications) technologies. This involves integrating sensor technologies for real-time ocean and seismic data.
Europe is taking proactive measures. The EU Commission rolled out the EU Action Plan on Cable Security last year. It called for a group of experts across the EU and cybersecurity agency ENISA to focus on resilience and prioritize non-commercially viable projects. As a result, a list of Cable Projects of European Interest was published alongside a Cable Security Toolbox. This recommends mitigation strategies for identified risks.
Recent incidents with submarine cables have highlighted their vulnerability. Thus, resilience is paramount. Marc Tachelet, Director of the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), spearheads this bold vision. He assures, “With the mobilisation of all operators involved in this section, I am confident that, together, we can better coordinate our actions, address those threats, and ultimately enhance the resilience of all submarine cable infrastructures.”
As Europe navigates shifting geopolitical terrains, it remains crucial to secure its digital gateways. Tachelet will address these ambitions at the Submarine Networks EMEA conference, emphasizing Europe’s commitment to digital security, and infrastructure expansion. Visitors can find HaDEA at Stand 2 at SubNetsEMEA.
