Market surveys on the EU Interconnectivity and eXchange Platform (EU-IXP)

The purpose of these market surveys is to gather feedback from economic operators potentially interested in participating as tenderers in public procurement procedures for the provision of the multiple ICT service elements to implement the successor of the TESTA network.

The new approach regarding trans-European network service offering marks a fundamental shift from the current situation. The goal is to replace the current TESTA with a new trans-European network – EU Interconnectivity and eXchange Platform (EU-IXP).

The deadline to reply to the surveys is 22 July 2024, 12:00 CEST.

Survey #1: Backbone services

The overall scope of this survey is related to the 'Underlay service’ and can be further broken down into different components such as:

• PoP (Point of Presence): A point-of-presence (PoP) is a point or physical location where two or more networks build a connection from one place to the rest of the network. Typically, the PoP would be considered as the demarcation point between the local loop and the backbone service.
• Backbone: A backbone network is a robust, high-speed network that links multiple local networks into a single wide-area network. Typically, the backbone will interconnect all the PoPs in the network.
• Field services: This is a hands-on and onsite service taking care of the installation and initial (physical) setup of the connectivity.
• Operational services: This is an overall service managing the backbone service, providing portal (API) services and managing the connectivity between the backbone service and the local loops in the PoPs.

Link: Backbone services survey

Survey #2: Customer network services

The overall scope of this survey is related to the 'Overlay service’ and can be further broken down into different components such as:

• Customer Premises Equipment (CPE): This equipment (physical/virtual) connects the customer's internal network with the service provider's network. The CPE should provide the required network overlay function as described above. 
• Field services: This is a hands-on, onsite service that takes care of the installation and initial setup of the connectivity.
• Operational services: This is an overall service that manages the overlay service, provides portal (API) services, and manages connectivity to the local loop and internal network equipment (LAN).

Link: Customer network services survey

Questions regarding the surveys can be submitted through email: DIGIT-CONTRACTS-INFO-CENTREec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DIGIT-CONTRACTS-INFO-CENTRE[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

Info sessions

In addition, following the publication of the two surveys, two dedicated sessions will be organised by DIGIT to answer questions arising from the surveys:

• Wednesday, 3 July from 14:00 to 14:30 CEST – Survey #1: Backbone services
• Wednesday, 3 July from 15:00 to 15:30 CEST – Survey #2: Customer Network services

For registration to one or both dedicated sessions, please send your request to be invited to the email address: DIGIT-CONTRACTS-INFO-CENTREec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DIGIT-CONTRACTS-INFO-CENTRE[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

Deadline for registrations: 2 July, 12:00 CET

Each economic operator that intends to participate to the session(s) will need to provide information on the company (full legal name, place of registration and ICT sector in which the company is active (telecommunication/internet/cloud service provider or network integration/operation managed service provider), and up to two contact persons (name, role within the organisation and email address) for participation. The link(s) to the meeting(s) will be shared with the participants before the session(s). 

Please note that participating in the dedicated sessions is not a requirement for submitting your answers to the survey(s). This is for informational purposes only. 

The contracting authority does not intend to respond individually to each feedback provided through this consultation but reserves the right to follow-up with a company for potential clarifications or publish further information following the market consultation.

Disclaimer

• All information provided by the contracting authority during this market consultation is purely indicative and is intended for preliminary informational purposes only. 
• The information shared does not constitute a commitment, a promise, or a legal obligation on the part of the contracting authority to proceed in any specific manner. 
• All details, including but not limited to scopes, estimates, and procedures, are subject to change at the discretion of the contracting authority without prior notice. 
• No right, claim, or reliance can be derived or asserted based on the information shared in this consultation. 
• Economic operators should not construe any information provided during this consultation as grounds for any claim or expectation of entering into a contractual relationship with the contracting authority.