ESA Awarded Cloud Contract to OVHcloud and CGI
The European Space Agency selected the firms to develop infrastructure for processing Earth observation data.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Data Centers
Live Poll
Should the government prioritize domestic companies when awarding contracts for essential national infrastructure?
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a 30-month contract to OVHcloud and CGI to develop the Digital EO system. This infrastructure will manage and process data collected from Earth observation satellites.
Why it matters
The project reflects the European Commission's strategic initiative to ensure that vital digital workloads remain within European-based providers. By centralizing these resources, the agency aims to streamline access to satellite data for researchers and public institutions.
The Digital EO system is designed to handle massive datasets, including integration with the Copernicus program and the EU digital twin of Earth project. The agency projects it will hold over 500 petabytes of Earth observation data by 2035.
The players
European Space Agency
This intergovernmental organization is dedicated to the exploration of space and maintains a significant network of satellites.
OVHcloud
This European cloud computing company specializes in providing scalable infrastructure and storage solutions.
CGI
This multinational information technology consulting firm provides system integration and architectural services for government projects.
The details
OVHcloud will provide the necessary computing, storage, and network capacity, while CGI will serve as the lead architect and integrator. The system will be deployed across Italy, France, and Germany, with primary support operations based in Poland.
Timeline
April 2026: ESA awarded a €180 million cloud tender.
September 2026: ESA awarded parallel study contracts to ICEYE and Leonardo.
September 28, 2026: OVHcloud and CGI contract award announced.
2035: ESA projected to hold 500 petabytes of data.
The Tech Race
This project positions European providers to compete more aggressively against major global cloud infrastructure firms. By building a homegrown system for the EU digital twin of Earth project, the agency is actively reducing reliance on non-European data hosting solutions.
Researchers and public bodies will gain improved access to sophisticated AI tools and pooled storage for Earth observation data. These infrastructure upgrades aim to speed up the processing of climate and mapping data used by diverse government agencies.
The takeaway
The investment underscores the growing necessity for massive data storage solutions as satellite imagery becomes more granular and voluminous. Organizations should prepare for increased data processing capabilities as these government-led infrastructure projects come online.
Further reading
For more on the latest trends in infrastructure, visit Data Centers.
Live Poll
Should the government prioritize domestic companies when awarding contracts for essential national infrastructure?
