Strengthen cross-border connectivity
Strengthen cross-border connectivity between Spain and France through new dedicated fiber infrastructure.
France-Spain Connectivity Corridor
Cross-border fibre optic infrastructure project designed to reinforce international connectivity and strengthen the resilience of digital infrastructure in Southern Europe.
Project Overview
The Fibre Optic Corridor between France and Spain (FOCFS) is an EU co-funded project under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) programme, implemented by lyntia, to strengthen cross-border connectivity through a strategic, high-capacity and redundant fibre-optic route. It deploys an alternative terrestrial corridor supporting growing data traffic, enhancing competition and aligning with EU goals for resilient and integrated digital infrastructures.
Project Objectives
Increase route diversity
Increase route diversity and digital infrastructure resilience by providing an additional independent corridor.
Improve interconnection capacity
Improve interconnection capacity between networks and digital ecosystems across the Spain–France border.
Support high-capacity optical transport
Support long-distance high-capacity optical transport through fully underground G.652D fiber.
Contribute to European connectivity
Contribute to a more robust European connectivity framework, aligned with EU digital infrastructure policy.
Project Key Data
Key infrastructure and programme indicators
CorridorFrance – Spain
ProgrammeConnecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital)
Infrastructure typeUnderground fibre optic network
Deployment model100% underground
Fibre standardITU-T G652D
Number of network centres5 network centres (≈ every 80–90 km)
Cross-border scopeSpain (Zaragoza) – France (Baigts-de-Béarn)
EU Co-funding (FOCFS)2,947,154.71 €
Infrastructure Deployment
A — Physical Route
ZA
Zaragoza ES
Cloud Sections Zaragoza (yellow and purple on map)
55 km
VA
Villar de Arnedo ES
Existing section — already built, no new deployment
114 km
Alto de Larrau ES/FR
Cross-border pass — Pyrenees
Spain / France border
BB
Baigts-de-Béarn FR
Puerto de Larrau–Larrau · Larrau–Licq · Licq–Baigts-de-Béarn
92 km (3 sections)
B — Infrastructure Characteristics
- Fiber optic cable infrastructure
- Standard: ITU-T G652D
- Fully underground deployment
- 5 network centres / colocation points
- Network centres approximately every 80–90 km
- Possibility of interconnection with French operators
- Route running parallel to motorway A-64
Project Corridor Map
FOCFS — France–Spain Connectivity Corridor
Illustrative representation of the FOCFS connectivity corridor between Spain and France.
Contribution to European Connectivity
FOCFS contributes to the development of a more resilient and diversified connectivity ecosystem in Europe by creating an additional cross-border infrastructure corridor between Spain and France. The project enhances route diversity, supports international data transport and reinforces the strategic role of Southern Europe within the wider European digital infrastructure landscape.
Interconnection Ecosystem
The infrastructure developed through FOCFS is designed to facilitate interconnection with telecommunications operators and digital infrastructure ecosystems, supporting the transport of data across borders and enabling greater flexibility for international connectivity architectures.
The corridor's design integrates established industry standards and
technical specifications that ensure compatibility with existing and
emerging operator networks throughout the Spain–France corridor.
Multi-operator architecture
The route is designed to serve hyperscalers and major telecommunications operators, providing a neutral, high-capacity dark fibre infrastructure tailored to the requirements of global cloud service providers.
Cross-border data transport
The route enables the transport of international data flows between Iberian and Central European networks, supporting long-haul and regional carriers.
Colocation and Network Centres
Five network centres distributed along the route provide physical presence points accessible for equipment installation and interconnection.
The FOCFS project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Health and Digital (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor HaDEA can be held responsible for them.