EU Member States have had a stated ambition to improve internet connectivity for several years. In 2020, the European Comission concluded that the development of new infrastructure was necessary to be “digitally sovereign”. Strengthening Internet connectivity on the continent and between Europe and Africa, Asia and Latin America was specifically mentioned during the Digital Day 2021.
99% of all traffic intercontinental data passes through submarine cables. Currently, EU legislators consider existing infrastructure to be too fragile to rely on. The portal Political had access to an internal European Commission document. In it, EU officials argue that a “secure underwater infrastructure for Europe” should be recommended to national governments. Current restrictions often prevent projects from being carried out. These restrictions must be eliminated by a Digital Networks Law in 2024. After that, more capital will be made available to carry out more ambitious infrastructure plans.
Specifically, two distinct investments must be made. Firstly, a plan is ready for the so-called “EuroRing”, aimed at supporting Internet traffic in Europe. Furthermore, a “Global Ring” should ensure that areas of great strategic importance are better connected to the continent.
These plans should finally give some additional weight to the previously announced “Global Gateway Initiative”. This plan was formulated by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the end of 2021. If all the projects involved in this initiative came to fruition, not only would there be new high-quality connections between Europe and the rest of the world. The so-called Humboldt cable system, for example, would not even reach Europe. It was supposed to connect Japan to Australia and Chile, while the South Africa – Indo-Pacific cable would connect South Africa, India and Malaysia. By the way, there is no money for any of this: these are just concepts that no one will pay for yet.
In Europe itself, there are five budget plans available. These plans pass exclusively through Northern and Southern Europe; most of the money would currently be channeled into projects linking Africa to Europe. Partner countries have a say in exactly how the cables will work. An anonymous EU official told the EURACTIV that “there is no justification for investments”, with an unfair and non-transparent decision method.
Companies interested, but Member States in mutual conflict
Submarine cable installation contracts can be extremely lucrative. Member States also have a lot to gain, as they can transform certain areas into “data centers”, something that Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Paris and Dublin managed to do with the Internet infrastructure already installed. The speed, reliability and central location of these points make them very attractive for building data centers.
For these existing markets, the previous plans will not look very attractive. This is while Portugal wants to position itself as a new crucial center for connectivity with Latin America and Africa. Before the plans can be implemented, Member States that do not play a major role in the new projects will also need to be convinced.
Basically, there is a common interest behind these European plans: containing vulnerabilities. Just as the EU wants to guarantee its own sovereignty in the field of semiconductors through European Chip Law, also hopes not to depend on anyone when it comes to digital infrastructures. Last weekend, a data cable (and gas pipeline) between Estonia and Finland was hit; the causes are still being investigated. On the other hand, the EU already had plans to build a power cable Internet on the Black Sea to connect Georgia to Europe, even without a cable through Russia.
