More than 1 billion euros for telecommunication projects envisaged in the Connecting Europe Facility
02.10.2014
High-speed access to the Internet and innovative digital services on a trans-European scale are of significant importance for economic growth and the single market, said the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Nikolina Angelkova at the opening of the information day for promoting opportunities for financing of telecommunication projects under CEF. She recalled that in mid-2014 the European Commission and the World Bank started a joint initiative – “Connected Nations”, which is an organizational network for the provision of technical assistance for access to financing and development of appropriate business models for the deployment of high-speed broadband networks. The initiative focuses on local authorities, the private sector and NGOs.
In the period 2014 – 2020 CEF will finance projects at the total amount of 33 billion euros, a billion of which will be allocated to the telecommunications sector. Minister Angelkova said that the aim of the information day is to boost active participation on behalf of Bulgarian municipalities and organizations in the process of applying for project financing.
At the event representatives of the EC and the World Bank presented the “Connected Nations” initiative and the application procedure itself. It assists the development of broadband networks in regions and cities. The aim is to pinpoint and support several innovative pilot projects for high-speed broadband infrastructure that would be applicable in the whole of the EU. Within the initiative the potential European projects are presented and the most mature ones are selected as they will have an advantage when allocating the technical assistance under CEF within the EC – World Bank partnership. The initiative establishes a community of stakeholders to work towards bridging the gap difference when it comes to high-speed broadband access.
All public or private organizations that work on a local, regional or national level will be able to present their broadband infrastructure projects.
Applications are to be filed in before 15 October 2014.
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