5G for Smart Communities - Works

The aim of this call is to support the early deployment of 5G-based systems that enable use cases for certain socio-economic drivers (SEDs). Within the context of this call, the targeted SEDs are public authorities exercising public powers and public or private entities entrusted with the operation of services of general interest (SGIs) or services of general economic interest (SGEIs).

For guidance on whether a service is of general interest or general economic interest, please consult the Call document.

Projects funded under this call are expected to:

• Deploy 5G infrastructures capable of delivering leading-edge connectivity with characteristics (such as Gigabit performance, high-user-density, ubiquitous coverage, capacity to connect IoT devices, low latency and reliability) that are capable of supporting innovative ways of improving the provision of public services and SGIs or SGEIs;
• Where necessary, bundle the deployed 5G networks with a cloud-to-edge middleware stack capable of supporting the data-intensive use cases and applications required by the involved SEDs.

The call aims to support 5G best practices beacons in different sectors that can serve as templates for possible replication with other resources, national or EU, or under other programmes (in particular RRF).

These projects are indirectly expected to demonstrate the potential capabilities and benefits of 5G networks and therefore stimulate the wider and faster deployment and take up of 5G across Europe. Projects will also contribute to provide the foundation for the development of “lead markets” for 5G and cloud-to-edge systems, eventually relying on technologies and standards developed under other EU programmes, in particular the Digital Europe Programme and Horizon Europe.

Projects using open, disaggregated and interoperable technology solutions and which allow the emergence of a European ecosystem of 5G suppliers are encouraged.

The CEF funding will cover the deployment of 5G infrastructure elements required to implement innovative use-cases by public authorities and SGI/SGEI providers. Proposals funded under the call are expected to rely on performance characteristics of the 5G technology that are indispensable to implement one or more use cases allowing the concerned public authority or SGI/SGEI provider(s) to deliver new or more efficient services.

CEF funding will support the network infrastructure elements of the project, both active (5G radio equipment) and passive (when the installation and connection of additional base stations is necessary). As indicated below, a limited investment (indicatively in the order of 10% of the total eligible costs threshold) to complete or upgrade the interconnection of the project with public electronic communication networks is also eligible.

The upgrade of existing infrastructure which does not currently provide sufficient quality for the use case is in scope.

The deployment or upgrade of backhaul and access networks connecting the premises where the 5G-supported project will be deployed with public electronic communication networks is not the main focus of this call. In principle, a Gigabit access network connecting the project should either already exist or be planned in parallel to the project. However, the proposal may include a limited investment to complete or upgrade such access (indicatively in the order of 10% of the total eligible costs).

In addition, if necessary for the implementation of the use case, the project can include the interconnection to federated cloud and edge computing infrastructures.

In both cases, backhaul/access networks and interconnection to cloud/edge computing infrastructures, such investments must be necessary to support the implementation of the 5G project related to the activity of the public authority or of the SGI/SGEI provider concerned by the proposal. Within this maximum 10% threshold, CEF funding cannot exceed the net cost incurred for the deployment of the backhaul/access network or cloud/edge computing infrastructure linked to the 5G use case in question.

CEF will finance the costs incurred in building infrastructure used to provide the 5G services to the eligible public administrations or public or private entities entrusted with the operation of SGIs or SGEIs, calculated on the basis of generally accepted cost accounting principles.

Connectivity elements of mobile or fixed devices, such as antenna equipment, transceivers and connected sensors, are eligible for funding.

Licenses and software for 5G connectivity are eligible for funding. However, the application services layer and its related software services that make use of the supported network infrastructure are not within the scope of this call.

Projects will also need to demonstrate that the infrastructure will be operated in a forward-looking and future-proof way based on state-of-the-art protocols and standards (such as e.g. IPv6).

Proposals will need to justify the availability of the necessary co-funding for the 5G connectivity deployment as well as the financing of any costs linked to the execution of the whole 5G use case project (e.g. end-user devices, sensors, connectivity subscriptions etc.) that are not covered under this call.

The project must be located in an area where no 5G network able to provide the performance and quality of service needed by the supported use case is commercially available. For this reason, the description of the 5G innovative use case mentioned in the previous paragraph must be accompanied by a statement declaring that, after verification with each of the mobile network operators active in the area, the required 5G connectivity is not commercially available at the end-user location.

Furthermore, each proposal should be supported by local and/or regional authorities in the area where the deployment is foreseen. This support may take the form of supporting documents such as administrative letters, letters of intent, memoranda of understanding, or others and should include an indication of any plan for other type of public financial support for the roll-out of a 5G network in that specific area known to the abovementioned authorities.

Mobile Network Operator(s) that take part in the consortium should commit to not declare to the competent authorities any additional mobile coverage resulting from the implementation of the project to justify their fulfilment of any applicable coverage obligation (e.g. if they are subject to a coverage obligation attached to a spectrum licence).

Proposals supporting use cases in the healthcare and education sector will be considered as having a high impact. The description of the proposed use case must contain all the elements demonstrating its viability, the future availability of services and equipment required on top of the connectivity, the business plan, the technical architecture and the technology readiness level (TRL). If a public procurement procedure needs to be launched by a beneficiary to achieve the project goals then this must be specified in the description. The description of the use cases should include the provided service and demonstrate that it requires 5G connectivity.

Please consult the Call document for more information on the scope, including digital security requirements.

CEF funding support is expected to accelerate the take-up of 5G connectivity for the provision of innovative services and contribute to a wider deployment and take-up of 5G at the same time. Such services may help reboot the overall economy after the COVID crisis, as well as support the transition towards the smart provision of services in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal. Such 5G enabled innovation can include:

• IoT infrastructure and community services that require a flexible, low-latency, reliable, high-user-density connectivity infrastructure, e.g. through a combination of fibre and wireless connectivity (5G, small cells, and Wi-Fi) that is IPv6 enabled.
• 5G-based use cases that leverage new 5G characteristics, e.g.: higher bandwidth and ubiquitous coverage (eMBB), ultra-low latency (uRLLC), massive machine-type (mMTC).
• Process and data innovations that require connectivity infrastructures with advanced service features, e.g. quality of service guarantees enabled by edge computing facilities and support by network slicing.
• Projects using open, disaggregated, interoperable technology solutions and which allow the emergence of a European ecosystem of 5G suppliers.

In addition to the support for local innovation, the EU added value is also based on the dissemination of the experience gained through the early adoption of concrete 5G use cases. This will contribute to gaining insights and increasing maturity for 5G-based applications in different sectors. The projects are expected to contribute to the dedicated Programme Support Action (see Section 5.3 of the Work Programme).

The key performance indicator for this call will include the number of new users of the 5G networks and the number of 5G-based use cases enabled as a result of CEF Digital support.

Beneficiaries will be required to share their knowledge, achievements and lessons learnt, in order to demonstrate to citizens the benefits of 5G by providing concrete examples of 5G based use cases for public authorities or SGI/SEGEI providers.

It is expected that proposals funded under this call will stimulate a larger deployment and take up of 5G use cases. This could also possibly be supported under the RRF, replicating best practices. The synergy with RRF may encompass wider “local digital transition projects” in which the 5G connectivity would be (co-)funded under this call and the remaining modules that are not covered by this call (e.g. the deployment of local computing, data or other digital capacities and solutions) would be funded under RRF or other programmes.