4 https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport ORG-0001 Department of Culture Communications Sport Government Buildings, New Road Killarney V93 A49X IE061 IRL 4000113V Digital Connectivity Office (01) 6437660 [email protected] ORG-0002 The High Court of Ireland Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7 The High Court of Ireland Dublin D07 WDX8 IE061 IRL The High Court of Ireland +353 1 8886000 [email protected] ORG-0003 European Dynamics S.A. European Dynamics S.A. Athens 15125 EL301 GRC 002024901000 +30 2108094500 [email protected] 00197119-2026 57/2026 2026-03-23+01:00 2.3 eforms-sdk-1.13 8b9565da-ffb0-4789-a124-f66318ab2b6f 2026-03-19+00:00 16:56:20+00:00 01 2027-03-31+00:00 32014L0024 pin-only ENG https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/policies/communications-and-digital/ cga gen-pub ORG-0001 ted-esen ORG-0003 Prior Information Notice for International Subsea Telecommunications Connectivity Programme The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (DCCS) wishes to inform the market that it intends to progress a procurement process relating to the development of international subsea telecommunications connectivity. This supports the Government of Ireland’s intent to ensure the security and resilience of our digital infrastructure across our networks and sub-sea cable infrastructure, as announced in the recently published National Digital and AI Strategy 2030 (“Digital Ireland: Connecting our People, Securing our Future”). DCCS will undertake a structured supply chain and market engagement process over the coming months to help shape the final procurement approach, with the intention of issuing the tender within 12 months. The development aims to ensure direct and robust subsea fibre connectivity between Ireland and Mainland Europe on an ongoing basis to 2050, with an adequate level of redundancy and diversity. The main objective is to diversify Ireland’s international subsea telecommunications connectivity and in particular to enable the delivery of at least two new subsea cable routes from Ireland to Northern Europe with delivery of the first route commencing by circa 2031. Interested parties are encouraged to:
• Monitor eTenders and ensure the appropriate CPV codes are selected so that notifications relating to this engagement are received. • Await further details on upcoming supplier briefings, market engagement activities, and the release of formal documentation will follow. • Begin considering any potential solutions, innovations, efficiencies, or value adding approaches they may wish to bring forward during the procurement process. DCCS anticipates active engagement with industry throughout this phase. Input from the market will be used to inform the design of the procurement, enhance value for money, and support efficient and effective delivery of the overall programme. This notice provides potential bidders with an overview of DCCS’s proposed intervention in Ireland’s international subsea telecommunications cable market. It outlines the programme objectives, the preferred intervention model, and expected future procurement activity. Subsea telecommunications cables carry approximately 99% of global data traffic and are essential for Ireland’s economic and digital infrastructure. As an island nation and a European technology hub, Ireland requires resilient, high capacity, and diverse subsea connections to support future demand and strengthen direct connectivity with EU Member States, and to provide for onward connectivity, through those new connections, to markets in Africa, Asia, and South America A Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case (PBC) have been completed in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines. These assessments concluded that a significant funding gap exists in the development of new subsea cable links between Ireland and the EU. Preferred Intervention Approach A range of State intervention options were considered. Following financial and economic appraisal, a hybrid intervention solution has been identified as the preferred approach. This hybrid solution includes: 1. Early-Stage Marine Survey Support: Upfront funding for marine surveys. This will facilitate detailed project design for the realisation of viable solutions. 2. Capital Grant Support and availability payment support for delivery of viable projects: This may be initiated as a second stage to bridge funding gaps and enable delivery for future projects. Forward Notice of Procurement Activity This briefing note serves as advance notification to the market that: • A procurement process for the initial subsea cable project (Early-Stage Marine Support) is expected to commence following Approval Gate 2. • Further procurements relating to additional subsea cable projects in accordance with 2 above may be initiated at a later date. Potential bidders are encouraged to monitor future DCCS publications and procurement portals for updates. services works 0 64200000 32500000 32560000 32570000 32580000 73112000 71354500 98360000 98362100 98361000 34513550 31300000 31600000 31700000 32000000 44000000 51000000 64200000 72000000 45232200 45231400 45232300 45311000 45315300 71320000 45223000 45231100 45314320 51300000 32200000 32300000 32400000 32420000 32410000 32430000 32510000 32520000 32530000 32540000 32570000 50300000 Country: Ireland Country subdivision to be confirmed IE061 IRL PAR-0001 ORG-0001 ORG-0001 ORG-0001 ORG-0002 ORG-0002 PIN for International Subsea Telecommunications Connectivity Programme The purpose of this PIN is to inform the market that the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport in Ireland intends to progress a procurement process within the next twelve (12) months relating to the development of international subsea telecommunications connectivity. Development of international subsea telecommunications connectivity through a hybrid intervention model comprising early-stage marine survey support, capital grant support for the first project, and availability payments for subsequent projects. Further procurements are anticipated following Approval Gate 2. services works 0 64200000 32500000 32560000 32570000 32580000 73112000 71354500 98360000 98362100 98361000 34513550 Dublin and other locations in Ireland IE061 IRL