Europe tightens grip on strategic space data as dependence on U.S tech comes under scrutiny

An Italian space-technology firm has partnered with Bologna-based Cubbit to create a sovereign European cloud infrastructure for Earth-observation data, as concerns mount over the continent’s reliance on U.S technology and the security of critical space information

Europe is taking further steps to bring control of its most sensitive satellite and geospatial data back within its borders, as policymakers and industry leaders warn of the risks of relying on American cloud infrastructure for critical services.

Planetek, an Italian space-technology firm and part of the D-Orbit Group, has signed an agreement with Bologna-based Cubbit to build a sovereign, geo-distributed storage system for nationally significant Earth-observation data — a move that underscores Europe’s drive to strengthen digital sovereignty in strategic sectors such as defence, security and space.

The project, to be deployed initially at Planetek Hellas in Greece, will store 3.5 petabytes of data, rising to five in the coming years. The infrastructure will use Cubbit’s DS3 Composer platform, which provides a geo-distributed cloud object-storage model in which encrypted data fragments are spread across a network of nodes. No single location holds a complete dataset, enhancing resilience and ensuring that information remains within national territory.

“Given the current geopolitical landscape, public cloud was not an option due to concerns over data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, and economic constraints,” Planetek said.

Sergio Samarelli, Planetek’s chief technology officer, added: “With Cubbit, we’ve built a solid and flexible infrastructure that enables us to meet the highest security requirements in the strategic field of Earth Observation. The ability to maintain full control of the data within our technological perimeter, and the sovereignty guarantee offered to our customers, gives us a key strategic advantage.”

The partnership reflects a broader recalibration under way across Europe, where reliance on American cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud has become a growing policy concern in Brussels. Officials have warned that European data could fall under foreign jurisdiction through US legislation such as the CLOUD Act, which allows American authorities to compel access to data held by US companies, even when stored overseas.

Fears of a “U.S kill switch”, under which Washington could theoretically order service suspensions affecting European clients, have been widely debated, particularly after the International Criminal Court briefly lost access to Microsoft Outlook accounts earlier this year following US sanctions. Although Microsoft denied interrupting service, the incident sharpened attention on Europe’s exposure to foreign-controlled digital infrastructure.

In the UK, recent research by Proton found that 88 per cent of publicly listed companies rely on U.S technology to operate essential systems, rising to more than 90 per cent in banking and telecommunications. Similar patterns are seen across Europe: more than two-thirds of large firms in France, Spain and Portugal use American-based data services. Even the continent’s own technology sector — the very industry expected to lead its digital independence — remains heavily reliant on infrastructure controlled from Silicon Valley. Analysts warn that this dependency channels intellectual property, capital and talent overseas, eroding Europe’s capacity to develop and scale home-grown solutions.

The European Commission has made “digital sovereignty” a central pillar of its industrial strategy. Initiatives such as Gaia-X, the European Alliance for Industrial Data and Cloud, and the forthcoming Cyber Resilience Act are designed to strengthen control over data and networks. France and Germany have introduced national procurement frameworks that prioritise European providers, while governments in Denmark and Germany are phasing out proprietary software in public administration in favour of open-source alternatives.

Cubitt said the deal reflected Europe’s determination to rebuild strategic control over its digital infrastructure. “To our knowledge, Cubbit is today the only fully European company developing software-defined storage solutions,” it told The European. “Building a robust EU tech ecosystem means creating, investing in, and buying European technology — particularly in strategic sectors like defence, security, and space.”

After years of market decline — Europe’s cloud share has fallen from 29 per cent in 2017 to around 15 per cent — policymakers are now treating digital sovereignty as a component of national security. Former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi’s 2024 report on EU competitiveness warned that Europe is “severely lagging behind” in new technologies, with only four of the world’s top 50 tech firms headquartered within the bloc. It urged the creation of domestic champions capable of competing globally in critical infrastructure, AI and semiconductors.

By anchoring data infrastructure within Europe, projects such as Planetek’s are viewed as early test cases for whether the continent can sustain independent capacity in strategically vital technologies. “This is the first in a series of projects in the space industry that we are working on, and which we hope to announce in the coming months,” said Alessandro Cillario, co-chief executive and co-founder of Cubbit.

“In this sector, the need to securely store and share data is directly linked to stringent requirements for data sovereignty and control over one’s technological infrastructure. Today, Cubbit is the perfect answer for data storage, both in the space sector and more broadly in the European institutional and governmental domain. We are therefore delighted that Planetek has chosen our solution for its strategic needs.”

Cubbit, founded in Bologna in 2016, describes itself as the first geo-distributed cloud-storage enabler. Its technology is used by more than 400 companies and partners, including Leonardo, Rai Way and Exclusive Networks, and is supported by Accenture, HPE and Equinix.

Planetek, established in 1994, has three decades of experience in geoinformatics and Earth-observation services. Its Greek subsidiary, Planetek Hellas, founded in 2006, supports European and national programmes in emergency response, defence and space-system development.

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_{Main image: SpaceX}