Frankfurt: Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched a new cloud service hosted entirely within Europe, aiming to address growing concerns among users about data security and reliance on predominantly US-based technology providers.
The new offering, called the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, provides Europe with an independent cloud alternative designed to meet strict regional data protection and sovereignty requirements.
AWS said that the European Sovereign Cloud’s data centres are both physically and legally separate from the company’s existing US-based infrastructure.
Now generally available: the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.
Built & operated in Europe, designed to help you innovate and grow while maintaining digital sovereignty. pic.twitter.com/k8TZUS78At
— Amazon Web Services (@awscloud) January 15, 2026
According to Michael Hanisch, Chief Technology Officer of AWS Germany, the system is designed to remain operational even in extreme scenarios, such as if the European Union were disconnected from the internet or if the United States were to impose restrictions on software exports.
Demand for sovereign cloud solutions is increasing across Europe as governments and businesses seek alternatives to US-dominated technology platforms. A key concern is the US Cloud Act, which allows American authorities to request access to data held by US-based providers, even when that data is stored outside the United States.
AWS’s move comes as competition intensifies among major US cloud providers to attract European customers with heightened data security needs. Microsoft has said it can store European customer data exclusively within European data centres upon request, while Google announced investments of €5.5 billion in German data centres last year.
AWS’s first European Sovereign Cloud data centre is currently under construction in the German state of Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin. Additional data centres are planned across Germany and other European countries, supported by investments exceeding €7.8 billion.
According to AWS, the sovereign cloud will feature dedicated controls, legal safeguards, and sovereignty assurances that comply with European government and enterprise requirements for handling sensitive data.
The platform will be operated and monitored by a German company, with management and advisory boards staffed by EU citizens. Over time, all employees involved in operating the cloud will be required to hold EU citizenship, further reinforcing its European governance and independence.
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