ESA taps CGI and OVHcloud for Digital EO, targeting 500 petabytes by 2035

The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched Digital EO, a project to collect, manage and provide access to Earth observation data from satellites and other equipment. ESA expects the system to handle 500 petabytes of data by 2035.

OVHcloud will provide cloud storage and processing. CGI, through its France Défense et Spatial subsidiary, will manage the project. Initial deployment is planned in Italy, France and Germany, with the system able to expand to other European countries and Canada. The UK also has access through its membership of ESA.

Digital EO is designed as a decentralized system to support research and other uses of Earth observation data. ESA says it will support European programs including Copernicus and DestinE. Nicolaus Hanowski, ESA’s Head of EO Mission Management and Ground Segment Department, said the project should advance how this data is managed and used.

OVHcloud is also expected to support the evolution of ESA’s Earth Observation Information System, potentially beyond the initial 30-month project, with the aim of meeting user needs and maintaining performance. The project’s value was described by OVHcloud as “multi-million” euros. The company’s CEO and founder, Octave Klaba, said Europe needs control of infrastructure for strategic programs and described OVHcloud’s role as providing sovereign cloud expertise.