Regional cable hubs

The primary goal of the Regional Cable Hubs grant is to enhance the security and resilience of undersea cables, which are critical infrastructures for global connectivity and power supply. The initiative aims to establish operational hubs in each EU sea basin, serving as central points for pooling and analyzing data relevant to cable security. These hubs will facilitate rapid information exchange, threat detection, and incident reporting among national authorities, private cable operators, and, where appropriate, defense entities. The grant supports the development of processes, tools, and services for near real-time situational awareness, leveraging existing maritime and surveillance systems, and integrating advanced technologies such as sea-based sensors, satellite imagery, and undersea drones. The action also encourages structured partnerships with the private sector and the progressive inclusion of defense capabilities to strengthen response and resilience.

Eligibility for this grant is restricted under Article 12(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/694, as detailed in the relevant work programme appendix. Participation is limited to designated national actors and authorities from EU Member States, including National Hubs and Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs), as well as private cable operators and, potentially, defense organizations as determined by each Member State.

The impact of the Regional Cable Hubs will be significant in consolidating collective situational awareness and operational capacity to detect and respond to threats against undersea cables. By enabling secure, rapid information sharing and integrating both civilian and defense resources, the hubs will play a crucial role in protecting strategic infrastructure from malicious acts and physical disruptions. This will ensure the continued reliability of essential services and strengthen the EU’s overall resilience to emerging security challenges in the maritime domain.