EU Invests €20 Million to Secure Submarine Cable Infrastructure
Riga, Friday, 24 October 2025.
The EU announced a €20 million initiative to enhance submarine cable security, vital for Europe’s digital economy, through regional hubs and AI threat detection.
Introduction of the EU Funding Initiative
In a significant move to safeguard Europe’s digital infrastructure, the European Union has announced a €20 million funding initiative aimed at enhancing the security of submarine cables. This initiative was unveiled by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen in Riga on October 24, 2025, as part of the EU Action Plan on Cable Security. The funding is set to bolster the resilience of these critical cables, which are essential for data transmission across continents and are pivotal to the digital economy of Europe [1][2].
Implementation and Strategic Goals
The funding initiative, which is part of the Digital Europe Programme, will support the establishment of Regional Cable Hubs. These hubs will leverage AI-based threat analysis to monitor and detect potential threats to submarine cables, enabling real-time detection and faster incident responses. The Nordic-Baltic region has been chosen as the test bed for the first pilot hub. Additionally, the initiative includes a €10 million call under the Cyber Solidarity Act to boost preparedness and stress testing of critical infrastructure [2][3].
The Role of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre
The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre, functioning as the EU’s central hub for managing cybersecurity funds, is instrumental in this initiative. It will oversee the allocation of €10 million for the establishment of these Regional Cable Hubs. The primary focus is on employing AI technologies to create a near real-time situational picture of threats to submarine cables, thereby enhancing the EU’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to such threats [3].
Background and Future Prospects
This effort is part of a broader strategy to protect vital infrastructure within the European Union. The EU has already invested €420 million through the Connecting Europe Facility Digital in 51 Digital Global Gateway projects, indicating a strong commitment to securing digital infrastructure. The new funding round is expected to further fortify Europe’s defenses against increasing cybersecurity threats. The initiative is a key element of the EU Action Plan on Cable Security, which was adopted in February 2025 and outlines a comprehensive approach covering prevention, detection, response, recovery, and deterrence [1][2][3].