Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways - Works

Expected Impact:The expected impact of the supported project include:• significantly improved security and resilience of the EU backbone networks;• strengthened quality of connectivity within the Union as well as with third countries;• capacity, security and resilience of the overall backbone network infrastructure benefit all EU end-users;• benefits surpass those directly related to the individual supported projects and contribute to bridging the digital divide and ensuring widespread access to the Gigabit networks for all EU end-users and businesses.Key performance indicators for this topic will include: i) the total length of the backbone, and ii) the additional (significant) transmission capacity created as a result of the projects supported by CEF. For submarine cables the number of fibre pairs, the current capacity per fibre pair, as well as the technology chosen and whether the system is repeated or unrepeated should be mentioned in the proposal, too.Objective: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.Scope: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.Proposals must concern the deployment or significant upgrade of a backbone network that addresses a market failure6 in at least one of the following scenarios:a) The project concerns a route where there i