Finland to receive EUR 4.67 million in EU funding for improving communications infrastructure

The European Commission has selected communications projects to receive funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). In the fourth round of calls for proposals under the CEF Digital programme, five projects coordinated by Finnish operators received a total of around EUR 4.67 million in funding. In addition, funding was awarded to a Swedish submarine cable project that is partly placed in Finland.

On 3 November 2025, the European Commission decided on the funding to be awarded for projects to improve the EU’s digital infrastructure. In total, EUR 389 million in funding was awarded.

Funding for submarine cables and for fibre-optic network 

The following projects of Finnish operators received funding:

1. Improving the connections between Finland and Sweden

EUR 1.62 million in funding was awarded to DNA Oyj. The project will improve the terrestrial connection of the backbone network between Finland and Sweden.

2. Expanding the fibre-optic network in northern Finland

EUR 1.15 million in funding was awarded to Elisa Oyj. The project will expand the fibre-optic network in northern Finland. In the project, several interfaces will be constructed for cross-border connections to Sweden and Norway.

3. Planning the Polar Connect submarine cable connection

The joint project of Finnish, Swedish and Danish operators will promote the Polar Connect submarine cable connection. EUR 4.97 million in funding was awarded to the project, an estimated EUR 91,000 of this to the Finnish operators. The project also includes the planning of the final route. The Finnish operators participating in the project include at least the Finnish IT Center for Science Oy.

4. Implementing the Nordic quantum connections

The joint project of Finnish, Estonian and Swedish operators aims to implement quantum-safe cryptographic key transmission connections that cross the borders of the EU Member States. EUR 4.99 million in funding was awarded to the project, an estimated EUR 1.49 million of this to Finland to VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Oy, Erillisverkot Oy and Finnish IT Center for Science Oy.

5. European 5G pilot project

The joint project of several EU Member States will implement an extensive 5G pilot project that comprises a 5G corridor extending from Scandinavia to Germany. The 5G corridor will also cover Luxembourg and Czechia. EUR 3.35 million in funding was awarded to the project, an estimated EUR 344,000 of this to Finland to Telia Finland Oyj and Telia Towers Finland Oyj.

In addition, EUR 1.64 million in funding was awarded to a Swedish project that is partly placed in Finland. The Baltic Offshore project to be funded will explore ways to protect submarine cables in the Baltic Sea.

What’s next?

A fifth round of calls for proposals under the CEF Digital programme is expected. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom will announce on its website when this is open.

Inquiries:

Sofia Lindbäck, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 165, [email protected]

Jaakko Laamanen, Senior Officer, tel. +358 295 342 206, [email protected]