Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The Connecting Europe Facility is a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through infrastructure investment at European level.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The overall objective of the call “5G Large-scale pilots” is to deploy large-scale 5G SA infrastructures that integrate connectivity and edge cloud capacities along the 3C Network value chain. Each pilot is expected to maximise the number of use cases enabled by 5G systems in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, education, mobility, transport (including use cases for Connected and Automated Mobility for road, railway and inland waterway as well as coastal maritime automation, or multimodal transport as appropriate) etc., targeting urban, sub-urban, rural, and cross-border areas.
Specific objectives are the following:
- 5G SA large-scale pilots will stimulate a wider and faster deployment and takeup of 5G across Europe, while providing the foundation for developing “lead markets” for 5G and edge cloud systems, relying where applicable on technologies and standards developed under other EU programmes, in particular the Digital Europe Programme and Horizon Europe.
- 5G SA large-scale pilots should demonstrate the benefits gained in specific vertical applications, following the evolution from current electronic communications networks towards virtualised and cloud-native network functions and distributed telco edge cloud, opening new opportunities to Europe’s key industries.
- 5G SA large-scale pilots funded under this call for proposals are expected to leverage 5G infrastructures delivering leading-edge connectivity characteristics e.g.: symmetric gigabit performance, high-user-density, ubiquitous coverage (e.g. to connect IoT devices), low latency and very high reliability. They will contribute to the integration of devices, networks, cloud and edge computing, and communication capabilities for telco edge cloud deployment to realise a ubiquitous mesh of computing and communication resources. Where necessary, the pilots should bundle 5G networks with a cloud-to-edge middleware stack capable of supporting the data intensive use cases and applications designed for a multi-purpose context (5G corridors and/or 5G applications for socio-economic drivers).
- These large-scale pilots are encouraged to cover multiple use cases. Crosssector synergies between multiple use cases are expected to be enabled by 5G SA supporting local smart communities and connecting multiple sites distributed across multiple countries and regions.
- 5G SA large-scale pilots should be designed in a way that, with adaptations due to possible different requirements, they can be replicated across Europe, for instance under other funding programmes such as ERDF, EAFRD or national investments. Projects may be preceded by inception studies or best practices funded in earlier calls under this programme or may be based on any other preparatory work funded under other programmes (such as R&I under Horizon Europe).
Detailed Call Description
In the case of 5G Corridor use cases, large-scale 5G SA pilots can be deployed along key European transport paths and the TEN-T network corridors including, but not limited to, the indicative list of 5G corridors in the Part V of the CEF Regulation, with a co-funding rate of up to 50%. The priority will be to support investments in cross-border sections involving two or more Member States.
The deployment of 5G corridors has been identified as a Multi-Country Project (MCP) in the Path to the Digital Decade Policy Programme. In addition, the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) provides guidance in reviewing the 5G Strategic Deployment Agendas for both road and rail, with a particular focus on deployment scenarios, cooperation models, and regulatory incentives. Therefore, each proposal must foresee cooperation with relevant Programme Support Actions funded under CEF Digital as well as relevant working groups and fora of the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS), which is expected to provide strategic input to the implementation of the CEF Digital programme with the support of dedicated CSA projects.
Applicants may apply for grants towards work projects, covering the following categories:
- Deployment of passive network elements including civil works, e.g., ducts, dark fibre, 5G radio stations, towers, masts and/or pylons.
- Deployment and installation of active network elements, e.g., antennae, storage and computing capabilities such as network controllers, routers, switches, edge MEC/node etc.
- Deployment and installation of specific tracks-ide devices (e.g., road, rail) for CAM use cases, such as sensors, cameras etc. for traffic monitoring purposes, including connected road-side units.
- Studies for preparatory works to be deployed as part of proposed works within the same application, such as network planning.
The proposed cross-border section of a 5G corridor must cross at least one Member State border, while its length on both/all sides of the border may vary, depending on national circumstances, such as means of transport, geographic situation and maximum size of the project/EU funding indicated in the call.
As regards Member States with large highway and rail networks (over 1000 km), cross-border segments of 5G corridors may span up to 15% of the corresponding combined length of TEN-T comprehensive corridors, per mode of transport (e.g.road, rail) in a Member State. If justified by the project objectives and in the absence of 4G coverage or where 5G networks cannot support services addressing evolving end-users’ needs), longer cross-border sections may be considered. As regards Member States with significantly smaller highway and rail networks, similar conditions to adjust the scale of corridor length may apply, and could thus exceed 15% of the corresponding TEN-T sections of the 5G corridors in a Member State, provided that market failure is demonstrated in the proposal.
In the case of Member States without intra-EU borders due to their geographic situation, or with no relevant sections of TEN-T corridors inside their borders, actions aiming at 5G coverage of intra-national corridor sections with insufficient mobile coverage suitable for CAM services, or sections without 4G coverage, are eligible. Similarily, 5G corridor deployment projects crossing the border of a third country or terminating at a port with maritime connections to other EU Member States are also within the scope of this call.
Cross-border deployment projects may also cover intra-national corridor sections where justified, if demonstrating market failure, and could be supported by CEF Digital with a maximum of 30% funding rate; complementary national deployment initiatives funded under other programmes, in line with state aid rules would be included.
In both cases, i.e. cross-border sections with or without intra-national sections, projects supported by CEF Digital shall not undermine coverage obligations of the mobile network operators stemming from spectrum licence conditions. Should the same area be considered for deployment, the applicants must demonstrate that service requirements fulfilled by the CEF funded project for future CAM services along the section concerned are going beyond requirements of coverage obligations, in particular service continuity with guaranteed quality of service, such as data capacities offered per vehicle, speeds, latency, or other service enablers. Costs related to fulfilling coverage obligations under spectrum licences will not be eligible for financing under CEF Digital.
Further details:
- Funding projects that foresee sharing both, passive and active infrastructure, e.g. through wholesale offers, is encouraged in order to allow for an efficient use of funds provided under this programme.
- Existing infrastructures such as ducts, fibre, equipment shelters, power supply and utility poles should be used as needed and if possible.
- Large-scale pilot proposals should clearly outline the benefits of deploying 5G corridors, as well as their integration with edge and cloud infrastructure.
- 5G corridors proposals should describe how the project will be used for the provision of CAM or FRMCS services along the entire corridor.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The maximum co-funding rate is:
- maximum 50% for the costs of preparatory studies, necessary to the works deployment within the proposal,
- maximum 70% for the costs of works in outermost regions, and
- maximum 30% for all other costs categories (‘project funding rate’).
You can apply for a higher project funding rate if your project concerns:
- strong cross-border dimension: maximum 50%
The maximum grant amount is expected to be between €10.000.000 and €20.000.000 per project.
This amount may be exceeded if duly justified by the applicants.
The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.
Thematic Categories
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Information Technology
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- International Organisations
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies); and
- be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e. EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs).
- (for proposals submitted under topic CEF-DIG-2024-5GLSPCORRIDORS-WORKS topic) non-EU countries (except for topics with restrictions; see Digital Security Requirements section above and see below):
- countries associated to the CEF Programme or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature (list of participating countries)
Please note however that this call is subject to restrictions due to security reasons. This means that only the following countries are eligible: EU Member States.
Moreover:
- participation in any capacity (as beneficiary, affiliated entity, associated partner, subcontractor or recipient of financial support to third parties) is limited to entities from eligible countries
- project activities (included subcontracted work) must take place in eligible countries (see section geographic location and section 10 of the call document)
- the Grant Agreement may provide for IPR restrictions (see section 10 of the call document).
Consortium composition – Proposals must be submitted by:
- minimum 2 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from at least two Member States, or a Member State and associated or third country (see Digital Security Requirements Section (and section 6 of the call document) for the conditions to allow entities from Associated and Third countries)
- exceptionally, when there is no terrestrial border with a Member State, or in the case of outermost regions, 5G corridor deployment projects crossing the border of a third country or terminating at a port with maritime connections to other EU Member States, minimum 2 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from at least one Member State.
The participation of the following actors as part of the consortium is encouraged:
- mobile network operators
- tower companies
- telecom backhaul operators
- road operators
- rail infrastructure managers
- original equipment manufacturers
- mobility service providers (such as innovative solutions providers for traffic management and intelligent transport systems)
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Department of Electronic Communications – State Department for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
Website: https://bit.ly/39IYcFZ
Address: 286 Strovolou Avenue, Strovolos, PO Box 24647, 1302 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22814854/22814846
Fax: +357 22321925
Email: info.dec@dec.dmrid.gov.cy
Contact person:
Mr. Nikos Ioannou
Electronic Communications Officer
Telephone: +357 22814875
Fax: +357 22321925
Email: nioannou@dec.dmrid.gov.cy
EU Contact Point
For questions please contact: HADEA-CEFDIGITAL-CALLS@ec.europa.eu