EU to implement cross-border network of 5G corridors to spur recovery

The fifth generation technology has been very helpful for countries and societies on many levels, with the latest 5G cross-border corridors that would create a network to help EU countries to deploy 5G technology for various uses across the region.

European Union countries should use a portion of the bloc’s €750 billion recovery fund to set up 5G corridors to help the 27-country bloc to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic, Europe’s digital chief said.

The European Commission disclosed its recovery fund plan last year to support the region’s economies that have been hit by the pandemic.

Improve telephone calls and internet use

“One of the things that we are pushing for is cross border, from a digital point of view in which 5G corridors would be important,” Margrethe Vestager, who is EU Competition Commissioner and also EU executive vice-president for digital issues said.

As such, 5G corridors would create a network to help EU countries to deploy the technology for several uses across the region.

For example, consumers would benefit from 5G by improving the speed and capability of telephone calls and internet use, whilst the network’s main benefit rests in creating new businesses, automating factories are and running critical infrastructures like power grids.

Vestager said “EU countries should take advantage of the recovery funds to set up power links, called interconnectors, to help to achieve the bloc’s green goals.”

She also noted that “Interconnectors between member states in order to create this energy union and in order for renewable energy to be able to travel better.”

Plans for projects

In addition, EU countries are planning to put forward plans for projects that could qualify for funds with a deadline that extends until end-April, with no extension. The goal is that the majority of the funds should be spent before 2023.

“There may be for individual countries where there can be specific circumstances, an election or things like that but as such as things are now we don’t foresee an extension,” Vestager said.

“Everyone would want to have plans ready for the recovery to start as soon possible once lockdown and restrictive measures don’t have to be at this tight phase as they are right now,” she note

The 5G corridors will aim at creating digital projects to help the EU to catch up with the United States and China.