ECB picks digital euro network service providers
The European Central Bank has selected two network service providers to connect PSPs and national central banks to the digital euro service platform.
Having put out an invitation to tender last year, the ECB has now inked deals with two providers: one made up of Deutsche Telekom and Nexi Payments, and the other consisting of Telefónica de España, Telefónica Global Solutions, and Indra Soluciones Tecnologías de la Información.
The 10-year deal with Deutsche Telekom and Italian payments giant Nexi has already started and will initially cover the connectivity needs for the digital euro pilot project, set to get underway next year. The contract with the Spanish providers begins in May 2027.
Both providers will be ready 2029 to deliver the required connectivity services for potential issuance of a digital euro – still subject to final approval. PSPs offering the digital euro will then have the option to connect through either one.
Nexi and Deutsche Telekom say that they will offers a robust and scalable connectivity and mediation platform designed to enable the end-to-end exchange of digital euro transactions across the entire digital euro service platform ecosystem.
The firms are promising a service engineered to guarantee the smooth delivery of digital euro services to end-users, with architecture supporting high levels of scalability and elasticity, allowing resources to be adjusted efficiently to meet varying transaction volumes and peak usage scenarios.
“Deutsche Telekom is helping build the secure, resilient digital infrastructure Europe needs to protect its institutions, strengthen its strategic autonomy and advance its digital sovereignty,” says Gottfried Ludewig, SVP, leader, public sector and health industry, Deutsche Telekom.
Source: https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/48678/ecb-picks-digital-euro-network-service-providers
