In brief
The 24 million‑euro Balkan Digital Gateway Works (BDGW) project is set to create a 200‑terabit‑per‑second digital corridor linking Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. Run over 36 months, the initiative includes two new high‑capacity routes and extensive upgrades to existing infrastructure, with future extensions to Moldova and Ukraine.
The Balkans Digital Gateway Works (BDGW) project, announced at a conference in Athens on 5 November 2026, will invest €24 million in new and upgraded fibre‑optic links across southeastern Europe, creating a high‑capacity digital corridor that could carry up to 200 terabits per second.
The initiative, which will run for 36 months beginning in December 2025, focuses on building two new routes – Burgas‑Alexandroupolis in Greece and Ofrinio‑Serres – and modernizing the existing Sofia‑Thessaloniki link that traverses Bulgaria and Greece.
Burgas‑Alexandroupolis will enhance connectivity between Bulgaria and Greece, creating a new exchange point between Central Europe, the Black Sea region and the Middle East. Ofrinio‑Serres will extend the current Sofia‑Thessaloniki line to future Aegean coast connectivity points, while reconstruction along the Sofia‑Kulata and Kulata‑Thessaloniki sections will replace ducts and individual fibre‑optic cables.
EU funding accounts for €10.1 million of the total €24 million, with the remaining amount expected to come from the countries involved. The EU has positioned the project as a boost to the digital economy of the region, citing improved access to international Internet traffic exchange points as a key benefit.
Technical specifications for the BDGW network call for data transmission speeds of up to 40 terabits per second per segment, with a combined capacity of up to 200 terabits per second. This level of speed is intended to support the growing digital economy across the region.
One of the primary goals of the project is to create redundant, resilient routes that reduce the potential for communication disruptions caused by natural disasters, cyberattacks or geopolitical upheavals. By creating an alternative network backbone, the BDGW aims to keep digital connectivity stable even under adverse conditions.
Beyond immediate technical gains, the BDGW is positioned as a catalyst for deeper integration across the Balkan circuitry. The project is expected to stimulate cross‑border trade, foster the development of digital services, and facilitate stronger ties between the EU member states of Greece, Bulgaria and Romania.
Future plans outlined by the project presenters include extending the digital corridor to Moldova and Ukraine. In addition, the possibility of submarine communication links between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea is also under consideration to further expand the reach of the network.
The event that unveiled the BDGW was titled “The Rise of the Balkans Digital Gateway” and was organized by Vestitel. While the conference showcased the project’s technical ambitions, it also highlighted the strategic significance of creating a resilient digital corridor in the southeastern European region.
Operational phases will begin at the end of 2025, with construction and modernization activities scheduled for the first two years of the 36‑month timeline. The final phase will see the integration of the new routes into a fully operational high‑capacity fibre‑optic network, ready to support the region’s evolving digital demands.
