The Balkan Digital Gateway (BDG) project represents a strategic initiative for building modern telecommunications infrastructure that will transform digital connectivity in Southeast Europe. Led by Vestitel, with a total investment of €24 million, the project aims to create a high-speed, secure, and reliable network connecting Sofia, Athens, Skopje, and Bucharest.
Large-scale infrastructure modernisation
The project comprises three main components:
New infrastructure – 600 km
Construction of entirely new telecommunications infrastructure along the Burgas/Aheloy – Alexandroupoli – Serres – Orestiada route, providing critical connectivity between the Black Sea and Aegean Sea regions.
Upgrade of existing infrastructure – 400 km
Modernisation and upgrade of the existing Sofia – Thessaloniki corridor, enhancing capacity and reliability of this vital trans-Balkan connection.
Advanced DWDM system deployment – 5,600 km
Installation of a state-of-the-art Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) system spanning 5,600 kilometers, connecting Bucharest, Sofia, Athens, and Skopje, as well as the Black Sea and Aegean Sea coastal areas.
Vestitel’s leadership and vision
Vestitel, as the project leader, brings extensive expertise in telecommunications infrastructure development to this transformative initiative. The company is spearheading the technical implementation, coordination among multiple stakeholders across four countries, and ensuring the project meets the highest standards of security, capacity, and reliability.
Through this project, Vestitel is positioning itself as a key player in the Balkan digital transformation, demonstrating its capacity to deliver complex, multi-country infrastructure projects that address critical regional connectivity needs.
Strategic importance
The Balkan Digital Gateway addresses a critical infrastructure gap in the region. The project will:
- Strengthen submarine cable systems in the Black Sea, providing enhanced
connectivity to existing and future undersea cable networks - Enhance North-South and East-West corridors, improving data flow across the
European continent - Boost EU connectivity with Turkey, the Middle East, and the Caucasus region
Reduce dependency on third-country equipment and infrastructure - Lower prices for network operators and end users by increasing service supply and
competition - Improve access to backbone connectivity across Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and North
Macedonia
Building Europe’s digital future
Under Vestitel’s leadership, the BDG project represents a significant step toward creating a resilient, secure, and high-capacity digital backbone for the Balkans. By linking four capital cities and providing redundant connectivity to key strategic points, the project will support the region’s growing role as Europe’s emerging digital hub.
The infrastructure will accommodate increased data traffic demands, offer low-latency connections over long distances, and provide the high availability and security standards required for modern digital services. This investment positions the Balkan region as a critical node in Europe’s digital transformation and contributes to the continent’s digital sovereignty and independence.
These activities are carried out within the framework of the BDGS – Balkan Digital Gateway Study (23-BG-DIG-BDGS), supported and co-financed by the European Commission under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital programme.
The initiative aims to strengthen Southeast Europe’s cross-border digital infrastructure and enhance regional connectivity by promoting secure, high-capacity, and competitive digital networks.
Led by Vestitel, the Balkan Digital Gateway project is transforming Southeast Europe’s digital landscape through strategic infrastructure investment, connecting millions of users to faster, more reliable, and more secure digital services.
