More than EUR 13 million in EU funding sought for seven Finnish digital projects

Finnish operators apply for a total of EUR 13.76 million in funding from the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for seven communications projects. In addition, four Swedish projects are partly placed in Finland. The Ministerial Finance Committee decided in favour of the applications on 30 January 2025.

In this application round, a total of EUR 323 million in funding is offered from the Communications Programme of the Connecting Europe Facility CEF. The main focus is on strengthening the backbone networks and on large-scale 5G pilot projects and quantum communications infrastructure.

“The critical infrastructure of Finland and the whole Nordic region is constantly being strengthened together with partners. The new submarine cables are a good example of this. We will not be caught off guard even in these unpredictable times,” Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne says.

Funding sought for submarine cables and 5G projects

The following Finnish projects are applying for funding:

1. Expanding the fibre-optic network in northern Finland

Elisa Corporation applies for EUR 1.92 million in funding. 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.

2. Improving the connections between Finland and Sweden

DNA applies for EUR 2.70 million in funding. The project will improve the terrestrial connection of the backbone network between Finland and Sweden.

3. Private network project in the Oulu University Hospital

The wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia, University of Oulu, WICOAR Technologies Ltd Oy, Philips Oy ja Probot Oy apply for EUR 5.91 million in funding. The project will implement a safe, high capacity 5G infrastructure in the Oulu University Hospital.

4. Building a submarine cable connection between Finland and Sweden

GlobalConnect Oy applies for EUR 148,150 in funding. The joint project of Finnish and Swedish operators will build a submarine cable connection from Gotland via the Åland Islands to Turku.

5. Planning the Polar Connect submarine cable connection

The Finnish operators apply for EUR 68,174.50 in funding. The joint project of Finnish, Swedish and Danish operators will promote the Polar Connect submarine cable connection. The project includes the planning of the final route. The Finnish operators participating in the project include at least the Finnish IT Centre for Science Ltd.

6. Implementing the Nordic quantum connections

The Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT, Suomen Erillisverkot Oy and Finnish IT Centre for Science Ltd apply for EUR 1.51 million in funding. 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.

7. European 5G pilot project

Telia Finland Oyj and Telia Towers Finland Oy apply for EUR 1.5 million in funding. 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.

In addition, four projects implemented by Swedish operators will partly be placed in Finland:

• The Baltic Offshore project will explore ways to protect submarine cables in the Baltic Sea.
• The Eastern Light project will promote a new high-fibre trunk cable connection from Stockholm via the Åland Islands to Helsinki.
• The Norrtälje Energi project will build a backbone network from Kapellskär in Norrtälje, Sweden to Utö in Finland.
• The Nordic Horizon 5G Corridor project will improve the connections in the Baltic Sea region with 5G solutions for different modes of transport.

Functioning and security of communication connections ensured

Finland’s communication connections are reliable and resilient to disruptions. The security of the connections is also ensured. The projects that apply for funding will contribute to the efforts to strengthen well-functioning and safe connections in Finland and the other Nordic countries.

The priorities of the implementation plan of the revised Cyber Security Strategy published in December 2024 include promoting the security and operational reliability of shared ICT services and data repositories. Cyber security will also be strengthened by implementing the EU’s cyber security regulation. Geospatial data on critical infrastructure is also protected. For example, geospatial data concerning the submarine infrastructure was removed from the open-source map application platform Oskari in June 2023 and the location service is being prepared with a focus on security.

What’s next?

The deadline for the call for proposals by the European Commission is 13 February 2025. According to an indicative timeline released by the Commission, decisions on funding will be made in autumn 2025.

Inquiries:

Sofia Lindbäck, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 165, sofia.lindback(at)gov.fi

Jaakko Laamanen, Coordinator, tel. +358 295 342 206, jaakko.laamanen(at)gov.fi