Finland to receive EUR 21.07 million in EU funding for communications projects

The European Commission has selected communications projects to receive funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). In the third round of calls for proposals under the CEF Digital programme, two projects coordinated by Finnish operators received a total of around EUR 21.07 million in funding.   This press release corrects information published (in Finnish) in a press release on 29 October 2024.

On 15 October 2024, the Committee of the CEF Digital programme selected the projects to receive funding for improving digital infrastructure across the European Union. A total of EUR 274 million was awarded by the European Commission.

On 29 October 2024, the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced that Finland had received EUR 24.24 million in CEF Digital funding.  However, the joint project referred to in the press release concerning 5G infrastructure of a sports centre has been cancelled and so the sum of EUR 3.17 million granted for the project will be withdrawn.

Funding granted to submarine cables and to 5G network construction

The following projects of Finnish operators received funding:

1. Promotion of the submarine cable system

Up to EUR 19.01 million was granted to FNF Europe Ltd for the promotion of the submarine cable system. The project is a Europe-based part of a larger Far North Fiber project. In the project, the first submarine cable system that will connect Europe and Asia via the Arctic Ocean will be constructed.

2. Constructing a 5G network at the Pyhtää airport 

Digita Oy, which coordinates the project, was awarded up to EUR 1.81 million in funding. In the project, a private 5G network will be implemented at Pyhtää airport, sensors and cameras will be connected to the 5G network, and three drone-based experiments will be carried out.

What’s next?

The fourth round of calls for proposals under the CEF Digital programme opened in October 2024.  The national deadline is 8 January 2025.

Inquiries:

Sofia Lindbäck, Senior Specialist, sofia.lindback(at)gov.fi, tel. +358 29 534 2165

Lauri Mustonen, Senior Specialist, lauri.mustonen(at)gov.fi, tel. +358 29 534 2252