On the Continent

What's working in European tech. Curated daily.

Cloud Infrastructure

High Dependency

Overview

AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud control roughly 70% of the European cloud market. European providers hold a combined 15% share, down from 29% in 2017. This means European companies, governments, and critical infrastructure increasingly run on US-controlled platforms subject to US jurisdiction (CLOUD Act).

The decline is accelerating as hyperscalers bundle AI services with cloud, making migration harder.

Why EU Sovereignty Matters

Cloud infrastructure is the foundation of digital Europe. When European health records, government services, and financial systems run on US clouds, they are subject to foreign jurisdiction and potential access under the CLOUD Act. Sovereign cloud capacity is essential for GDPR enforcement, data residency requirements, and maintaining control over critical digital infrastructure.

Key European Players

Corporate

German cloud and hosting provider known for competitive pricing. Operates data centers in Germany and Finland.

German cloud provider (United Internet subsidiary) offering IaaS, PaaS, and managed hosting across European data centers.

OVHcloud FR public

Europe's largest cloud provider, crossed €1B revenue in 2025. Operates own data centers and manufactures own servers in France.

Cloud platform built by Schwarz Group (Lidl/Kaufland parent). Sovereign cloud designed for European enterprise needs.

French cloud provider (Iliad Group subsidiary) offering compute, storage, and AI infrastructure. Strong in the developer market.

Startup

French PaaS provider focused on automated deployment and European data sovereignty.

Key Facts

GAIA-X
EU federated cloud initiative
Key policy
Cloud & AI Development Act (forthcoming)
US hyperscaler share
~70% of EU market
EU cloud market share
~15% (down from 29% in 2017)

Recent News

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