Yesterday, the European Commission announced more than 250 million euros to support “secure connectivity,” funding that includes submarine cables to connect the outermost regions (ORs), such as the Azores.
In a statement, the Commission said it had signed grant agreements with 37 projects selected under the second set of calls for proposals for the digital strand of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital).
Antena 1/Açores reported yesterday that 40 million euros of these European funds will go towards the new CAM ring, which connects the mainland, the Azores, and Madeira. The total investment in the project will be 150 million euros, and part of this has already been guaranteed by the 5G auction.
“The total budget of 252 million euros will be allocated to projects for the deployment of 5G infrastructure for local communities and along the main European transport corridors, as well as for the deployment of submarine cables, improving the security and resilience of backbone networks within and for the European Union (EU),” said the Commission.
It said that among the projects supported, the “EU will co-finance the deployment of maritime cables to provide greater interconnection between Ireland and the EU mainland, as well as between the EU and its outermost regions in the Atlantic Ocean.”
“The grants will also support a direct trans-Atlantic link between the EU and the Far East, provide high-capacity connectivity infrastructure to the digitally underserved Greek islands in the Mediterranean and enhance connectivity to Africa,” the European Commission said.
It will also support “future-proof 5G infrastructure along highways, roads, railways and cross-border waterways”.
“Finally, the grants support the deployment of 5G network infrastructure in smart local communities across the EU, such as universities, hospitals and other civic buildings, to improve the quality of services of general interest.”
According to the Commission, the call for co-financing new Digital EIM projects is open until February 20.

in Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director

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