Eight European IT organisations, comprising Arsys, BIT, Gdańsk University of Technology, Infobip, IONOS, Kontron, MONDRAGON Corporation, and Oktawave, have launched virt8ra, a multi-provider edge cloud designed for Europe.
Led by OpenNebula Systems, a Spanish open-source company, the initiative intends to create a flexible infrastructure that connects many cloud providers. The initial rollout covers six EU member states: Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, and Spain.
The effort falls under the Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI-CIS). Approved by the European Commission in December 2023, the initiative involves 12 EU member states and over €3 billion in funding from public and private sources.
At the core of the project is an open-source software stack for virtualisation, developed by a network of more than 30 European companies. The focus is on creating a vendor-neutral framework tailored to managing the growing integration of cloud and edge computing, known as the cloud-edge continuum.
Addressing Europe’s cloud challenges
Virt8ra aims to tackle a pressing issue in Europe’s digital landscape: dependence on large, non-European cloud providers. The infrastructure is designed to manage a range of distributed computing services, from 5G cell towers to data centres. This makes it especially suitable for applications where low latency is important, like smart factories, connected vehicles, remote surgery, and wildfire management.
By providing an open-source alternative to the large, proprietary cloud, virt8ra helps EU businesses and governments minimise their reliance on hyperscalers and Big Tech vendors, and support Europe’s push for a greater degree of technological sovereignty.
Features and future development
The initial version of virt8ra already demonstrates key capabilities. A single control plane allows users to manage physical resources, virtual machines, and Kubernetes clusters across various cloud providers. The infrastructure has been developed with an emphasis on portability, enabling applications to be deployed and migrated easily between different locations.
The project is far from static. Plans are underway to expand the system’s reach, incorporate more locations, and add advanced features designed for next-generation use cases, like edge-based AI applications. The projected advances are intended to satisfy the needs of European businesses in a complex digital environment.
Barriers in the current cloud market
Despite the potential of initiatives like virt8ra, the European cloud market still faces challenges. Customers frequently struggle with high costs, like data egress fees, and a lack of interoperability between providers. Migration procedures can also be cumbersome, making it difficult to switch services.
The EU’s Data Act, set to take effect in September 2025, aims to address these issues by promoting smoother transitions between cloud and edge providers. Virt8ra is aligned with this legislation, offering an open-source technology stack designed to make transitioning more seamless.
According to Ignacio M. Llorente, CEO of OpenNebula Systems, virt8ra represents a significant step in reshaping Europe’s cloud landscape. “The virt8ra testbed represents a turning point in the way in which EU tech champions are coming together to fix the EU cloud market. We are finally building a sovereign cloud-edge continuum based on vendor neutrality and European open source,” he said.
(Photo by Unsplash)
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