In brief
The Balkans Digital Gateway Works (BDGW) is a €24‑million project financed largely by EU funds that will build new fibre‑optic routes and modernise existing ones along the Athens‑Thessaloniki‑Sofia‑Bucharest corridor. The network aims for 200 Tbps capacity and greater digital resilience, with future extensions to Eastern Europe and a submarine connection between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea.
A 36‑month, EU‑backed project to build high‑speed fibre‑optic routes across Greece, Bulgaria and Romania was unveiled in Athens on November 5, 2026. The initiative, called the Balkans Digital Gateway Works (BDGW), seeks to create a resilient digital corridor capable of 200 terabits per second and to boost the digital economy in the region.
Project Scope and Vision
BDGW will construct two new fibre‑optic routes – Burgas to Alexandroupolis in Greece and Ofrinio to Serres – and modernise the existing line from Sofia to Thessaloniki. These links will serve as key nodes in the Athens‑Thessaloniki‑Sofia‑Bucharest corridor, providing additional capacity between Central Europe, the Black Sea region and the Middle East.
The Burgas‑Alexandroupolis route will strengthen connectivity between Bulgaria and Greece, opening new avenues for cross‑border data exchange. The Ofrinio‑Serres line will connect the Sofia‑Thessaloniki link to future points along the Aegean coast, allowing the corridor to reach further into the southeast.
Other parts of the project involve reconstructing sections of the existing line between Sofia and Kulata, and between Kulata and Thessaloniki. This will include the replacement of old ducts and fibre‑optic cables, ensuring that the infrastructure can support the new capacity requirements.
Funding for the project totals €24 million, with €10.1 million coming from the European Union. Work is slated to begin in December 2025 and last for 36 months. By the end of the investment period, the network should deliver up to 40 terabits per second per segment, with a combined capacity of 200 Tbps.
Future Connectivity and Impact
In addition to the core corridor, the BDGW team plans to extend connectivity to Moldova and Ukraine, thereby linking Southeast Europe more firmly to Eastern Europe. The project also foresees the development of submarine communication links between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, a move that could provide a direct offshore route for high‑speed data traffic.
One of the key goals of the project is to increase the resilience of digital infrastructure. By building alternative routes, the initiative aims to reduce the risk of communication disruptions caused by natural disasters, cyberattacks or geopolitical upheavals.
Beyond infrastructure, the BDGW is expected to improve access to international internet exchange points. This will foster a more competitive digital environment and support the growth of the regional digital economy by allowing local businesses to tap into broader global markets.
As the construction phase unfolds, stakeholders will monitor how the new capacity and enhanced resilience translate into economic benefits for the communities along the corridor. The project’s progress will be a barometer of Southeast Europe's evolving digital landscape and its integration into the wider European data network.
