5G Corridors in the European transport paths

Imagine travelling across European borders in a connected car, seamlessly switching between national networks without a single glitch in your navigation, streaming and other infotainment, or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. No buffering, no dropouts—just smooth, intelligent mobility. Not only in cars, but also in trains, river and sea vessels and barges. That’s the promise of the 5G for Transport Corridors topic under CEF Digital programme: high-speed, low-latency connectivity stretching across national frontiers to power the next generation of automated and connected vehicles in different transport modes.

A total of €93 million have been awarded for 25 projects in this area since the beginning of CEF Digital.

Two successful live demos from the first wave of CEF Digital-funded 5G Corridors have taken place: 5G SEAGULI [1] in April and 5G DELUX [1] . These projects focus on seamless, uninterrupted connectivity for connected cars, covering platooning and mission critical services experiences, as well as Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) handover solutions for Voice over LTE (VOLTE) A third demo from the project 5G NETC [2] will take place in early June 2025.

As is the case for NETC, train connectivity is also a focus of some 5G Corridors projects. For example, 5G4RailScand [1], from the second wave of deployment projects, is exploring 5G applications’ co-existence with the first deployments of passive infrastructure for Future Railway Communication Systems (FRMCS). The topic is also covering seamless 5G connectivity in river navigation, e.g. in the project 5G Estuary [1], where the objective is to enable innovative technologies for inland water transport, enhancing operational efficiency, and supporting the transition to smarter, automated, and sustainable shipping solutions.

As Europe accelerates toward a future of intelligent, interconnected mobility, 5G Corridors are laying the digital tracks, roads, and waterways that will power it. From highways to high-speed rail, from river routes to sea lanes, the seamless, ultra-fast connectivity enabled by CEF-Digital is more than a technical upgrade—it’s a transformation. One where borders fade, innovation flows, and the transport of tomorrow becomes a reality today. Stay tuned—the journey is just getting started.

Ensuring access to a fixed gigabit network to all EU citizens

Access to backbone connectivity varies significantly across the EU, and in some regions, inadequate connectivity can hinder the development and performance of access networks. Fortunately, through the EU funding programme CEF-Digital, the topic of Digital Global Gateways [3] plays a crucial role in bridging these connectivity gaps by supporting infrastructure development in regions where market forces alone are insufficient.

Moreover, ensuring the robust quality and resilience of the networks within Europe and beyond is crucial for the EU’s digital sovereignty, as it enables the EU to maintain control over its digital infrastructure and ensures the integrity of its data.

Considering growing cybersecurity threats and the risk of attacks on this critical infrastructure, the European Commission published a “White Paper on how to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?, a Recommendation” [4] on the security and resilience of submarine cable infrastructures and an “Action Plan on Cable Security” [5] recognising the need to safeguard submarine cables in February 2024. In addition to strengthening national cybersecurity frameworks, the EU is fostering collaboration between Member States to improve coordination and ensure the protection of submarine cable infrastructure. The Commission has also established an Expert Group to guide these efforts, aiming to assess risks, improve information sharing, and enhance the maintenance and repair capacity of these essential cables.

The EU’s comprehensive approach seeks to bolster the security and resilience of submarine cables, ensuring they remain protected against evolving threats while supporting the region’s digital economy.

To date, CEF-Digital programme has awarded €420 million in grants to 51 backbone connectivity projects. The EU is currently co-funding marine surveys and cable deployment projects in regions such as the Arctic, the North and Baltic Seas, the Caribbean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, as well as cables connecting the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira. The programme also co-funds terrestrial connectivity for instance in Finland and Poland, as well as a satellite teleport on the islands of Wallis and ­Futuna.

Further information:

[1] Projects information: https://guide.5gcorridors.eu/cef-digital-projects/

[2] 5G NECT Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKSiPFQACxg

[3] Digital Global Gateways: https://hadea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/connecting-europe-facility/about/backbone-connectivity-digital-global-gateways_en

[4] White Paper on how to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?, a Recommendation: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/white-paper-how-master-europes-digital-infrastructure-needs

[5] Action Plan on Cable Security: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025JC0009

Projects co-funded by Connecting Europe Facility Digital in Backbone Networks