This story was originally published on CIO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter. Dive Brief:  Global sovereign cloud spend will increase 35.6% to $80 billion in 2026 as geopolitical tensions contribute to growing interest among countries and organizations to retain control of their data, according to a Gartner report published Monday.  Industries and governments are investing in sovereign cloud to “gain digital and technological independence,” Rene Bue ...

Press contact:Antara Nandy Tel.:+ 91 9674515119E-mail: antara.nandy@capgemini.com Capgemini and Google Cloud expand strategic partnership to accelerate AI adoption at scale by providing trusted and secure sovereign solutions Paris, February 06, 2026 – Capgemini today announced the expansion of its strategic partnership with Google Cloud to deliver end-to-end secure sovereign cloud solutions. As part of this, Capgemini will help clients adopt Google Cloud’s leading AI technologies, including Vertex AI and Ge ...

Core Insights - German enterprises are increasingly adopting cloud services tailored for AI workloads to support their growing AI deployments, focusing on features, computing power, and storage capacity [1][2] Cloud Adoption Trends - As companies transition AI from pilot projects to core operations, they are reevaluating the role of cloud platforms, emphasizing cost optimization, data protection, and industry-specific use cases [2][3] - The growth of public cloud services is now driven by the integration of AI technologies rather than just faster time to market or enhanced customer experience [2] Sovereign Cloud Expectations - There is a shift towards sovereign cloud capabilities, with German enterprises demanding stronger control over data, compliance, and legal certainty, leading to increased demand for local data residency solutions [3] - Hyperscalers are responding by expanding regional data centers and aligning their offerings with local regulations while enhancing security controls [3] Cost Optimization Focus - German companies are prioritizing cloud cost optimization due to budget constraints and economic uncertainty, leading to a demand for greater financial transparency and immediate savings [4] - Providers are offering structured cost-management approaches and optimization frameworks to help enterprises align cloud investments with business priorities [4] Integrated Solutions for SMEs - Small and midsize enterprises in Germany are increasingly seeking comprehensive cloud and IT solutions that encompass strategy, transformation, and ongoing operations [5] - There is a preference for integrated offerings from single providers that combine advisory capabilities with reliable managed services [5] Cybersecurity and Sustainability - German enterprises are focusing more on cybersecurity and sustainability as risk exposure and regulatory expectations rise, often partnering with providers to protect assets and meet climate goals [6] Provider Evaluation - The 2025 ISG Provider Lens Multi Public Cloud Services report evaluates 100 unique providers across various service categories, highlighting leaders and rising stars in the market [7][9] - Deutsche Telekom/T-Systems is recognized as a leader in seven quadrants, while other notable companies like Accenture and Microsoft lead in multiple categories [8] Customer Experience Recognition - LTIMindtree is named the global ISG CX Star Performer for 2025 among multi public cloud service providers, achieving the highest customer satisfaction scores in ISG's Voice of the Customer survey [10]

Amazon has launched its new "sovereign cloud†service in Europe, aiming to stay competitive in a market where regulators are putting greater pressure on Big Tech. The offering is designed for organisa... ...

Core Perspective - Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, which is an independent cloud service located entirely within the EU, ensuring physical and logical separation from other AWS Regions [1] Group 1: Product Launch - The AWS European Sovereign Cloud is now generally available, providing a fully featured and independently operated sovereign cloud [1] - This cloud service is designed with strong technical controls, sovereign assurances, and legal protections to meet the specific needs of European customers [1]

Core Insights - Amazon has launched its "sovereign cloud" offering in Europe to maintain its competitive position amid stricter regulations for tech giants [1] - The sovereign cloud concept involves data being stored and managed within a specific jurisdiction, addressing EU concerns over U.S. tech dominance [2] Group 1: Sovereign Cloud Details - The AWS European Sovereign Cloud is based in Brandenburg, Germany, and is designed to be "physically and logically separate" from other AWS regions [3] - A new parent company has been established for the sovereign cloud, which will be locally controlled within the EU and operated by EU citizens [3] Group 2: Leadership and Structure - Stéphane Israël will lead the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, with Stefan Hoechbauer appointed as managing director [4] - An advisory board for the sovereign cloud has been formed, including five new members, three of whom are Amazon employees [4] Group 3: Operational Independence - The sovereign cloud has "no critical dependencies on non-EU infrastructure," ensuring operational continuity during global communication disruptions [5] - In extreme circumstances, authorized AWS employees who are EU residents will have independent access to necessary source code for maintaining services [5] Group 4: Market Context - U.S. tech firms, including AWS, Microsoft, and Google, dominate the European cloud computing market, accounting for 70% of the market share [6]

Core Insights - The article discusses the performance of the S&P 500 and Alphabet Inc Class A, highlighting their recent trends and market implications [1] Group 1: S&P 500 Analysis - The S&P 500 has shown significant fluctuations, reflecting broader market sentiments and economic indicators [1] - Recent data indicates a rise in the S&P 500, suggesting investor confidence amidst ongoing economic challenges [1] Group 2: Alphabet Inc Class A Analysis - Alphabet Inc Class A has experienced notable stock price movements, influenced by its quarterly earnings report and market expectations [1] - The company's performance is closely monitored due to its impact on the tech sector and overall market trends [1]

Core Viewpoint - SAP is investing 20 billion euros ($23.3 billion) to expand its sovereign cloud services, reflecting Europe's demand for data localization and compliance with local regulations [1][2]. Company Summary - The investment will enhance SAP's Sovereign Cloud portfolio, providing European customers with a complete technology stack while ensuring sensitive data remains under local control [2]. - SAP's offering includes an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform built on open-source technologies, hosted entirely within EU-based data centers [4]. - SAP has introduced a Germany-specific cloud, Delos Cloud, designed to comply with German regulations [4]. Industry Summary - The concept of sovereign cloud is gaining traction as European regulators enforce stricter data privacy and security laws, such as GDPR and the EU AI Act [3]. - Other cloud providers are also responding to this trend; AWS announced a new sovereign cloud for Europe, while Microsoft and Google Cloud have introduced similar offerings to ensure data remains within Europe and complies with local laws [5][6].

Summary of MARA Holdings (MARA) Conference Call - August 12, 2025 Company Overview - MARA is the largest publicly traded Bitcoin miner and the second largest globally, operating 16 data centers across four continents and owning wind farms and flare gas power generation sites [3][4] - The majority of operations are based in the U.S., with additional operations in the UAE, Finland, and Paraguay [4] Core Business Insights - The Bitcoin mining industry has evolved from small garage operations to larger, capital-intensive companies since 2018-2019, with significant capital influx [7][8] - MARA has adopted an asset-light model initially, focusing on compute and renting space, which has allowed it to scale effectively [8] - Currently, four major American companies control about 20% of global Bitcoin mining [8] Competitive Landscape - New entrants in the market include notable figures and companies aiming to become major players in Bitcoin mining, indicating a trend towards consolidation [9][10] - Some miners are pivoting to High-Performance Computing (HPC), driven by demand for power from hyperscalers [11][13] Financial Performance and Strategy - MARA's electricity cost per Bitcoin is among the lowest in the sector, at under $30,000 per coin, which is crucial for profitability [22][28] - The company has transitioned from 0% owned operations to 70% owned capacity, allowing for further cost reductions [27] - MARA is the second largest holder of Bitcoin, managing its treasury prudently to optimize returns [25][42] Future Opportunities - The company is entering the AI HPC space through a recent investment in a French technology company, which enhances its capabilities in inference at the edge [5][6] - The inference market is projected to grow significantly, with MARA targeting sectors that require on-site data processing [34][35] - The company aims for a balanced revenue model, with expectations of a 50-50 split between domestic and international operations in five years [41][45] Key Challenges and Considerations - The Bitcoin mining model is capital-intensive and requires continuous reinvestment, while the AI model offers recurring revenue potential [46][48] - The global hash rate's growth necessitates that miners continue to expand to maintain profitability [24] Unique Value Proposition - MARA differentiates itself by owning its technology stack, which enhances operational efficiency and cost management [49][50] - The focus on technology investment is seen as a long-term strategy to create a competitive moat in both Bitcoin mining and AI sectors [50][51]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues for Q4 were $1,310,000,000, with organic year-over-year growth excluding AMC, IP rights, and DXC [9] - For the full fiscal year 2025, total revenues were $5,170,000,000, down 3% excluding AMC and approximately 1% excluding IP rights and DXC [10] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 was $444,000,000, representing a 34% margin, significantly up excluding AMC [9] - Free cash flow for the year was $687,000,000, exceeding the high end of the target range [13] - Adjusted EPS was $3.82, showing strong growth excluding AMC [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud revenue for Q4 was $475,000,000, reflecting a 2% year-over-year growth [9] - Cloud bookings surged to $238,000,000, marking a 32% year-over-year increase [9] - Cybersecurity accounted for 30% of cloud revenues, with content and Business Network also at 30%, while OSM and DevOps made up 10% each [11] - Content, OSM, and DevOps each grew faster than 10% year-over-year, while cybersecurity experienced a negative growth of 4% [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total cloud RPO increased by 13%, with current cloud RPO up 8% and long-term RPO up 17% [12] - Cloud renewal rate stood at 96% at the end of Q4 [12] - The company reported a strong annual recurring revenue of approximately 81% in Q4, up 20 basis points year-over-year [47] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to expand its competitive advantage through Business AI, Business Clouds, and Business Security, with a focus on delivering total revenue growth through compelling solutions [7] - The medium-term business model targets approaching the "Rule of 40," balancing revenue growth with adjusted EBITDA margin [23] - The company plans to grow its annual dividend by 5% and repurchase $300,000,000 of its stock in fiscal year 2026 [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in fiscal year 2026, projecting total revenue growth of 1% to 2% and cloud revenue growth of 3% to 4% [19] - The geopolitical environment is seen as a driver for customers to invest in sovereign clouds, which is expected to positively impact bookings growth [56] - Management acknowledged challenges in fiscal year 2025 but emphasized a strong outlook for fiscal year 2026, driven by cloud and AI innovations [15] Other Important Information - The company completed a significant divestiture of its mainframe business and executed a large business optimization program [6] - A new $30,000,000 share repurchase program was announced alongside a return to M&A activities [6] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are you seeing from end demand and customer behavior given uncertainties? - Management noted a strong trend towards sovereign cloud and an increase in customer control over deployments, which is seen as a positive driver for growth [56] Question: How much of the maintenance decline is operational, and can pricing be adjusted? - The decline in maintenance is improving due to performance and growth programs, with a focus on core operating metrics showing positive trends [60] Question: What cloud business units are seeing outsized growth? - All cloud business units are experiencing growth, with content, OSM, and DevOps growing faster than 10% year-over-year, while cybersecurity is expected to return to growth [72][73] Question: How much of the fiscal year 2026 growth is visible in RPO? - Current cloud RPO is approximately 60% of revenues, providing strong visibility for the projected growth [76] Question: What conditions would lead to M&A activities? - The company is interested in acquisitions that align strategically and financially, with a focus on cloud and high-growth areas [78] Question: Where is the company investing the most currently? - The company is focusing investments in content, security, and OSM, with an aim to return Business Network to growth [83]