You may find examples of the 5G for Smart Communities projects which are submitted under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF – Digital) programme. There are already 7 projects which have started deploying 5G infrastructure since January 2023 and you can find more relevant information about them via the dedicated 5GSC.eu platform.
Recently, 10 more projects were selected under the second call. These projects aim to roll out 5G networks, in line with the ambitious goals of the EU Digital Decade for 2030. CEF Digital is financing a total of 17 initiatives, backed by a €50 million budget, spread across Europe.
Call 3 closed for submission in February 2024. However, the sharing of knowledge, the exchange of good practices and the replication continues: you are free to use the existing material and learn more about each project. The long-term vision is also meant to attract additional investment to scale up the deployment of 5G in all areas of Europe and the best practices are there to serve only as pioneer examples, focussing on services of general interest.
Let's delve into the 5G for Smart Communities (5GSC) initiative. In healthcare, funded projects plan to provide 5G connectivity to hospitals or ambulances and revolutionise patient monitoring, facilitate early diagnostics, and offer personalised medical advice and treatment (i.e., you can find out more from an actual use-case in the project: “5G for University Hospital” in Germany). Meanwhile, in education, the integration of 5G in underserved regions opens doors for students to participate in classes from remote locations using virtual and augmented reality tools, enhancing interaction and making lessons both more efficient and enjoyable (i.e., you can find out more from actual use-cases in the projects: “Flanders Smart Fields” in Belgium or “5G for a Smart Sicilian Academic Campus” in Italy). There are several other areas, such as mobility, emergency services (fire, police departments), energy management, and many other public services, which are positively affected by the deployment of a 5G network.
For a deep dive into the action, check out the details of the 7 projects funded under CEF Digital Call 1, and, of course, don't miss the scoop on the 10 innovative projects funded under CEF Digital Call 2.