The European Commission has launched two new calls under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), offering a total of €200 million for high-capacity network projects, including submarine cables.

The first call, €180 million, targets deployment or major upgrades of backbone networks, focusing on the 13 Cable Projects of European Interest identified in the EU’s report on submarine cable security. The aim is to enhance the security, capacity, and resilience of Europe’s digital infrastructure.

The second call, €20 million, supports smart upgrades to digital infrastructure, enabling real-time monitoring to protect critical networks. Projects may include environmental or incident data collection to improve early warning systems, seismic and tsunami detection, and climate impact monitoring.

These initiatives align with the EU Action Plan on Cable Security and underline the bloc’s commitment to secure, resilient, and future-proof digital networks, reinforcing economic and strategic resilience. CEF Digital remains a key tool for safeguarding critical submarine cable infrastructure against accidental or intentional damage.