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It's an excellent time to find AirPods deals, thanks to the new release of the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2. This means you can find fantastic AirPods sales on all models, including the AirPods Pro 2, the AirPods 2 and 3, the luxurious over-ear AirPods Max, and even rare AirPods 4 deals.
The AirPods 4 and AirPods 2 were just unveiled at last year's September Apple Event and are available in two models: one with active noise cancellation, priced at $179 / £179, and one without, costing $129 / £129. Thanks to holiday sales, you can find impressive discounts on Apple's newest AirPods and AirPods deals on older models, with prices as low as $69 / £69.
Below, you'll find all the best AirPods deals, categorized by Apple's standard AirPods, which include the AirPods 2, the AirPods 3, the all-new AirPods 4, the AirPods Pro 2, which include noise-canceling technology, and Apple's only over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max and AirPods Max 2.
Our price comparison tool automatically brings you the best savings from all your favorite retailers. You can shop the latest prices when they hit the shelves to ensure you get the best AirPods deals.
Apple's all-new AirPods 4 are available in two models: one with active noise cancellation, priced at $179 / £179, and one without, costing $129 / £129.
Apple says the AirPods 4 are the best-fitting AirPods ever and feature a new refined contour and shorter stem. The AirPods include Apple's H2 chip that supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation to improve the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Other features include new controls for playing music and muting calls, a case that delivers 30 hours of battery life, and support for USB-C for wireless charging.
There are plenty of AirPods deals to be found for the 2019 AirPods that had a launch price of $159 / £159 / AU$249. But thanks to the AirPods 3 release, you can find frequent discounts on the 2nd generation AirPods, dropping as low as $99 / £99 / AU$99.
While the AirPods 2 lack noise cancellation, the 2nd generation earbuds come with Apple's H1 chip to deliver quality sound and faster pairing with seamless connectivity. The H1 chip also offers voice control via Siri, so you can get directions, skip songs, and make calls completely hands-free. The earbuds come with a charging case that provides a further 20 hours of battery life in addition to the five hours in the buds themselves.
The Apple AirPods 3 were released in 2021 and are the latest true wireless earbuds in Apple's line-up of AirPods. The earbuds feature a new design that resembles the AirPods Pro with shorter stems that include touch-capacitive force sensors for easy control. You're also getting improved sound with spatial audio, resulting in a more immersive experience, and a MagSafe charging case that provides more than 30 hours of total listening time.
The 3rd generation AirPods have a starting retail price of $179 / £169 / AU$279, but you can regularly find the earbuds on sale since their release.
In September of 2022, the long-awaited AirPods Pro 2 launched with a starting price of $249 / £249 / AU$399. You're getting enhanced noise cancellation and overall sound quality thanks to Apple's new H2 chip and improved in-ear detection and touch controls for volume adjustment. At the 2023 Apple September event, the AirPods Pro 2 received an upgrade and now come with a USB-C charging case, so you don't have to rely on a Lightning cable, plus additional dust resistance and Lossless Audio with Apple Vision Pro.
Thanks to recent holiday sales, we've already seen impressive AirPods Pro deals, with record-low prices reaching $189.99 in the US.
The original AirPods Pro were released in 2019 with a starting price of $249 / £249 / AU$399. While the earbuds are no longer available to purchase from the Apple store, you can sometimes find the original AirPods Pro on sale at third-party retailers.
The AirPods Pro were the first AirPods to include active noise-canceling technology to keep outside distractions away from your music, which is excellent for those noisy commutes or keeping your concentration going at work. The AirPods Pro are also water and sweat resistant, making them much better suited to the gym than the standard AirPods, and they come with multiple tips so you can adjust to the best fit for you.
- Check out AirPods Pro deals direct from Apple
Apple quietly released the AirPods Max in December of 2020 as Apple's most expensive headphones with a starting price of $549.99 / £549.
The AirPods Max not only stand out because of their price, but the Apple headphones also feature an over-ear design, which is a first from the AirPods line. Apple claims the AirPods Max bring the magic of AirPods to an over-the-ear design, which means you're getting Active Noise Cancellation, powerful H1 Chips, and an enhanced audio experience.
The AirPods Max also feature a unique design with a breathable knit mesh headband and a stainless steel frame with memory foam earcups for ultimate comfort. The Apple headphones come in several sleek color choices, such as space gray, silver, sky blue, green, and pink, and provide up to 20 hours of battery life.
- Check out AirPods Max deals direct from Apple
The official AirPods' price is $159 in the US and £159 in the UK and $249 in Australia. So you shouldn't pay any more. Although, we have seen some stores cheekily push the price up when stock thins out. If you're looking for the version with the wireless charging case, then prices shoot up to around $199 in the US and £199 in the UK.
Expect the usual outlets to charge closer to the MSRP and, better yet, potentially dip below it around the key shopping seasons. Fingers crossed we don't have to wait long for some proper Apple AirPod sales though!
As an alternative, there are lots of wireless earphone and headphone deals in our Beats headphone deals page and other brands are covered in our wireless headphone deals page.
What about the original 2016 Apple AirPods?These models have been discontinued and phased out at most stores now. On the rare occasions that we do spot unused stock units, they're actually the same price as the new and improved 2019 versions.
Short version: get the 2019 models instead via one of the deals in the comparison chart above. To be sure they are the new ones, look out for H1 chip and hands-free Siri functionality in the description if the title doesn't say something along the lines of '2019' or 'latest/newest version'.
Should I wait for a cheaper AirPods deal?You might be waiting a while for seriously big discounts. Last year around Black Friday, we were seeing $20 discounts selling out in minutes, and it was one of the most popular deals we highlighted in our extensive roundups of the hottest offers. We saw similar discounts in the UK too - much better than last year's $7 discount but still no flash sales around right now.
Things have actually been better overall this year though with much better deals available in various regions. We're regularly seeing discounts of $15/£20 outside of peak seasonal discounts, so you should be able to beat the recommended asking price to be honest.
- Apple fan in general? Then take a look at the latest iPad deals and the best Apple AirTag prices and sales.
- GDP MicroPC 2 packs performance upgrades into one of the lightest laptops with full Windows
- Full-size ports and PCIe 3.0 storage make this mini-PC surprisingly versatile for fieldwork
- 7-inch screen is sharp, bright, and folds flat for flexible use, but not for long sessions or multitasking
While most modern ultraportables chase thin bezels and all-day battery life, GPD’s new MicroPC 2, the follow up to the original MicroPC (first launched in 2018 and refreshed in 2021), takes a different route.
It brings back the netbook format with updated internals and rugged, field-ready durability, aimed at specific use cases like IT maintenance, networking, and mobile diagnostics.
Weighing around 490 grams and measuring 171.2 x 110.8 x 23.5 mm, it is one of the lightest laptops with full x86 compatibility.
Performance in a tiny shellAt its core, the MicroPC 2 runs Intel’s N250 processor, built on the newer Intel 7 process.
While still a low-power chip, it offers clear improvements in base and boost clock speeds, cache size, and integrated graphics performance.
Paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and a 512GB M.2 SSD with PCIe 3.0 x4 bandwidth, the system delivers surprisingly capable performance for light workloads.
Benchmark scores show large gains in both CPU and GPU performance compared to the original MicroPC.
Even with those upgrades, it is hard to see this compact device - now available for backing on Indiegogo - gaining broad appeal, especially with an early-backer price close to $500.
Its 7-inch 1080p display offers 500 nits of brightness, making it readable and usable despite the compact form factor.
The screen folds flat for added flexibility in tight environments. Still, the size and layout make it uncomfortable for extended typing or multitasking.
For engineers or mobile professionals who need command-line access, it may serve as a compact problem-solver. But it is best viewed as a backup terminal, not a primary machine.
The MicroPC 2 does make smart use of its rear I/O layout. With dual USB-C and USB-A Gen 2 ports, HDMI 2.1, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, and microSD support, it offers more connectivity than most tablets.
However, the removal of legacy ports like RS-232, available on the original MicroPC, could be a drawback for technicians working with older systems.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have been upgraded, but their value depends on whether users see the benefit of these features in a 7-inch form factor.
For IT administrators, field testers, or mobile teams who need a physical keyboard on the go, it could function as an efficient, task-specific business PC.
But most users will find the cramped keyboard, limited performance, and narrow software support too restrictive for general use.
The 512GB version of the MicroPC 2 is currently priced at $495 for backers, with retail pricing set at $607.
At the time of writing, it has raised HKD 754,620 (about $96,131.80) in crowdfunding and is scheduled to begin shipping in September 2025.
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- Silverstone Seta H2 could be overkill for some, but it solves a very specific problem
- Storage density is the priority, and that comes with layout and thermal trade-offs
- Cable clutter and airflow chaos are inevitable when you chase maximum drive capacity
In a market full of flashy PC cases with glass panels, RGB lighting, and limited internal expandability, SilverStone’s newly unveiled Seta H2 case takes a far more practical approach focused on functionality.
Built as a full tower workstation case, the Seta H2 is about storage expansion rather than stylistic embellishments, and while its 540TB capacity might sound like overkill, this case makes it technically possible.
At a glance, it may look like a throwback, but beneath its plain surface lies the capacity to support what could be the largest HDD array in any consumer-grade tower case.
Not flashy, but engineered for scaleThe case’s internal volume of 70 liters is used efficiently to accommodate up to 15 hard drives, and if each of these drives is 36TB, this enables a theoretical storage capacity of 540TB.
This configuration requires multiple removable brackets and cages, which allow users to mount a mix of 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives.
Additional 2.5-inch slots are hidden behind the motherboard tray and in various corners, suggesting this design caters to users who value storage density over airflow or clean cable layouts.
Enthusiasts considering this setup may find cooling to be a bottleneck, despite support for multiple fans and even large radiators.
Airflow becomes more complicated when 15 drives are tightly packed in the front, and those drives themselves are not exactly low-power or low-heat components.
Support for E-ATX and SSI-EEB motherboards makes the Seta H2 viable for enterprise or heavy workstation use.
The ability to fit long GPUs, up to 428mm, is impressive given the limited internal space, but installing a side radiator or using one of the drive brackets near the GPU can reduce clearance and make cooling and layout choices more difficult.
Whether the Seta H2 offers the best HDD setup is debatable, as power, heat, and cable management issues may limit its practical use.
With a starting price of around $216 or €200, this case is neither budget-friendly nor prohibitively expensive.
However, if you need the full 540TB capacity, a 36TB HDD like the Seagate Exos M 36TB is priced at $800.
At this rate, the total cost for 540TB could be over $12,000, depending on the models selected and current market conditions.
Via Techpowerup
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- Freepik launches unlimited AI video and image generation for Premium+ and Pro plans
- Model rollout will be gradual, but more are expected to be supported soon
- It could cost Freepik in the short term, but it'll result in long-term customers
Freepik is rolling out unlimited AI generation across the platform for paying users, meaning they won't be limited to caps or credits as is the case with many other rival platforms.
Premium+ and Pro account holders now get unlimited AI video and image generation as Freepik becomes one of the first major platforms to remove restrictions entirely.
Despite lifted limits, users will still be limited in other aspects - for example, video will be rendered in 768p resolution, using the MiniMax model from launch.
Freepik lifts AI limitsThe company has promised to add further models as time goes on, with weekly launches planned for July 2025. Most will become unlimited, just like MiniMax, but some of the more powerful models like Veo 3 will be restricted.
"We decided to eliminate credits and offer unlimited generation because we understood that what holds users back is not the technology, but the frictions in the usage model," Freepik CEO Joaquin Cuenca explained.
Cuenca emphasized accessibility, creativity and mass adoption were the company's key drivers, rather than monetizing limitations, with the company expecting to absorb technological costs to promote long-term platform loyalty, ultimately leading to more sustainable revenue from long-term customers.
To get access to unlimited video and image generation, users will need to be on one of the two paying plans, starting at $24.50 per month.
"That's the real revolution of AI: not just in what it can do, but in how it is put at the service of people," the Cuenca added.
No details have been shared about upcoming models, but we do know that Premium+ and Pro plans get priority speed when using ChatGPT, Imagen 4 and Veo 3 compared with the cheaper and free plans. They also get early access to upcoming AI features, with top-tier Pro customers getting advanced AI models soonest.
You might also like- Sony is sharing more details on its NFL coaching headset
- The Sony NFL Coach's Headset will make its debut for the 2025 NFL season
- This one won't be purchasable by consumers, but promises best-in-class ANC like the WH-1000XM6
Sony is the official technology partner of the NFL – the National Football League – and we know that the tech giant has been working on a headset for coaches and other officials. We even got a first look at it back in January at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Now, though, Sony’s NFL Coach’s Headset is official, comes in three styles, and will be making its debut ahead of the 2025 season. And when the season does kick off later this year, you can expect 32 teams to be using the headset.
Unlike the latest Sony WH-1000XM6 for Sony, the NFL Coach’s Headset is tailor-made for, well, what the name describes. It’s designed from the ground up to work for coaches in a game environment, and that starts with connectivity. It doesn’t have Bluetooth onboard, but plugs into a special connectivity box that taps into the private network, powered by Verizon, for the NFL and the teams.
(Image credit: Sony)There are also physical buttons or capacitive touch controls on the NFL Coach’s Headset. It also doesn’t have a rechargeable battery; rather, Sony is going old-school, possibly a quicker route than requiring a recharge by powering this headset with two AAA batteries. It’s also not carrying a specific IPX rating, but Sony did stress-test the unit for both extreme cold and extreme heat at NFL games.
This was done in environments where these weather conditions are recreated, as well as through live testing during NFL games this past season, including a frigid and snowy game at the Buffalo Bills' Highmark Stadium.
Sony’s past experience with various consumer headphones, including the WH-1000 series, will inform the design and other aspects, but it will likely focus on noise cancellation and pickup. It’s also not as straightforward as there are multiple design options for this headset, depending on the team and even individual preference.
Yes, it comes in a model with left and right earcups, but there are also two other options – just a left earcup and just a right earcup. All three, though, come with a microphone on a boom. Sony, however, is offering active noise cancellation on all three models.
Sony put this to the test in stadium environments where ambient crowd noise was measured at 100 decibels.
The resulting noise cancellation does, claims Sony, work effectively and has been tuned specifically for this use-case – here that means being able to hear communication while on the sidelines, but also for the microphone onboard using signal voice processing to pickup just the person speaking, and not the background chatter or even sound of the stadium.
Considering there are no buttons on the headphones, the microphone will automatically mute when the boom is raised. However, the belt pack, to which the headset will be plugged, will also have some manual controls.
Much of the focus here clearly went into making a durable headset that could withstand game after game use, though Sony confirmed with us that each team would have backups and that the overall feature set was purpose-crafted for each coaching staff.
Sony’s NFL Coach’s Headset will be worn during the 2025 season, which starts early September, but will make an early debut during the Hall of Fame game at the end of July. It, of course, does have some Sony branding front and center, after all, it’ll be shown on TV. I’m just curious if these will make it into a Beyond Sports simulcast – Homer rocking one could be neat.
As you might suspect with such a purpose-built product, there are no plans for a consumer release for the NFL Coach’s Headset. Those after a Sony headphone will need to consider the Sony WH-1000XM6, and you can read our full review here.
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- Claude can now connect to apps like Notion, Canva, and Stripe
- The AI can understand and assist with tasks using your actual work data
- Claude's secure access reduces the need to constantly explain context to the AI
Anthropic has upgraded Claude with a major new set of tools that let the AI assistant integrate directly with several popular software tools, including Notion, Canva, Stripe, Figma, Socket, and Prisma. The new Claude tool directory means you don't need to explain what you want to Claude every time you want to employ those tools; Claude can now look at the same information as you to help.
Until now, most AI interactions have required copying and pasting every detail from your project management tool, explaining what’s important, clarifying what each task means, and double-checking that the AI understood it. Now you can just ask it to do the task, and Claude will pull the information directly from the relevant tool to handle things.
That might not seem groundbreaking at first glance, but that context gap is where things usually fall apart when asking AI chatbots to help you. For instance, if you're working on a product launch in Notion and have a list of things to do, you'd normally have to retype or upload all the information to Claude. Now, once you connect Notion to Claude, the AI can read your project documents directly and start putting together timelines and presentation materials that fit the product because it sees what you see.
Or imagine a small business owner using Stripe to manage payments who wants a summary of which customers paid last week and which still owe you for your services. Claude can now pull that data directly from Stripe with your permission. And with Canva, a blank social media post template can now be filled in with a design and copy from Claude based on your brief. You describe what you need in plain language, and Claude will make something usable.
Claude connectedThese integrations are powered by something called the Model Context Protocol, or MCP. That basically means Claude can understand and act on the tools you use without needing a whole tutorial. You just connect an app once, and Claude gets secure, limited access to the relevant information inside it. It doesn’t read your entire inbox or download your bank history, just what’s necessary to help you with the task at hand.
You can go to Claude’s tool directory and connect whatever apps you already use. If you’re on a paid Claude plan, you’ll get access to remote app connections like Stripe and Notion. Desktop integrations, like Figma and Socket, are available through the Claude desktop app.
Other AI tools are trying something similar. Google’s Gemini shows up in Docs and Gmail. Microsoft’s Copilot is baked into Word and Excel. But Anthropic’s take is more about linking what you already do with the AI, as opposed to baking the AI into those apps directly.
Of course, this doesn't make Claude autonomous. It can’t pay your bills or fully run your job. And while Anthropic says it’s designed everything with privacy and security in mind, some are likely to be wary, even if you can choose what Claude can access. But for most regular users, this update represents something potentially very useful in staying on top of things. If, as Anthropic claims, it will save time and mean you don't have to redo a lot of tedious paperwork, it will likely be a very popular feature.
You might also likeAI is democratizing access to software development in new and innovative ways, with 'vibe coding' emerging as the latest buzzword for budding developers. For the uninitiated, vibe coding makes it easy for anyone to get a head start on projects, by merely describing what they want AI tools such as Cursor, GitHub’s Copilot or Replit to accomplish.
This is no small thing, especially for those who before had not been able to create software on their own. However, vibe coding requires a high level of trust in the AI’s output, and there are potential trade-offs in confidence and security for a faster turnaround and expanding capabilities to those who would not otherwise be able to code.
Exploring the latest AI technologiesExploring the latest AI technologies can undoubtedly help developers experiment with new ways in which to do things better and faster, and vibe coding is no exception. However, even Andrej Karpathy, the former AI director at Tesla who coined the term, advises that the methodology is better suited for “weekend projects” than for more complex projects.
For smaller, proof-of-concept style projects, the speed of vibe coding can shine, but as things grow so does the need for important context and knowledge of edge cases. Vibe coding practicalities aside - recognising security exploits, lack of contextual understanding, bug fixing and software life cycle/maintenance considerations – there’s also a larger issue at play.
For AI-powered coding grunt work to improve in any format or scale, socially responsible AI must be the foundation on which technology solutions are built and delivered. The more trusted and accurate the data that large language models train on, the higher quality the outcome - for the code and most importantly, for the larger tech community.
There is a need for a symbiotic relationship to form: data helps create and improve AI experiences, and AI experiences help guide new, human verified information.
Understanding the opportunities and risks associated with vibe codingAI continues to democratize access to software development in new and innovative ways for aspiring developers. Developers can ask AI tools such as Cursor, GitHub’s Copilot or Replit to help initially scaffold what they would like to see at the beginning of a new project. This is where AI generated code can be very powerful, and I use it on my own homegrown projects.
There is little need for context, edge cases are much fewer, and security concerns are more “standard” than other larger projects with bespoke needs. However, the trade-off for improved speed can be a sacrifice in potential security concerns as those code bases grow.
For budding programmers, vibe coding has the potential to provide the necessary support during the early stages of a project, and anything that gets more people into our field and shortens the learning curve to coding is always a good thing. But caution should also be exercised given the risks associated with the method for things outside of some early, base use cases.
Handing over the reins to AIAndrej Karpathy describes vibe coding as interacting with AI to assist developers shift away from manual programming activities through LLMs (large language models), prompting developers through intuitive decisions to make it easier to create software as LLMs continue to improve code writing skills.
To fully embrace vibe coding, developers must cede much of the control to the AI assistant during the entire process, rather than becoming aware and having an understanding of the code as it is put into the codebase.
As LLM assistants continue to improve their corpus of knowledge on developing code, real-time decisions and predictions are made around what you would like to happen next to successfully complete a project, but these are still assumptions and educated guesses based on the experiences of others.
Vibe code with cautionIt should always be remembered that every coding process cannot be overseen exclusively with the help of AI assistance. Small, low-risk side projects are ideal for vibe coding. When it comes to larger, more complex projects – a human should always be a first-class part of that loop.
AI coding tools powered by LLMs can and do produce mistakes. Developing larger datasets of information and considering other factors such as quality control and security requires an expert eye to monitor flaws or weaknesses that could be new or unexpected to an AI who is only thinking of other use cases, or the most common ones.
Knowledgeable developers are able to identify and test vulnerable code themselves – LLMs are sometimes simply unable to even register any mistakes they may produce.
In short, what the AI assistant doesn’t know, it will not flag as an issue – be that a bug or security vulnerability, AI can be quite confidently wrong. Vibe coding is a new trend for the industry but cannot be seen as a silver bullet or license for cutting corners in the development process when quality and stability matter.
Human expertise must always contribute to the process along the way as code bases grow, either vertically or horizontally.
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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro
Europe has begun to actively test the waters of cloud sovereignty, with 72% of European businesses prioritizing data control when selecting technology vendors. However, despite the growing desire to protect data integrity and security within European borders, over 70% of European businesses use US hyperscalers from their cloud computing provider.
While Google is doubling down on its commitment to data sovereignty, there is a growing concern over hyperscalers' dominance over the European market, as it leaves critical infrastructure in the hands of dominant foreign providers.
As sweeping tariffs continue to escalate tensions between Europe and the US's big tech, many are questioning whether Google's commitment is enough to protect Europe’s data from the Big Three.
US influence on Europe’s tech ecosystemUS Policies, like the 2018 Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act, give US hyperscalers massive influence in Europe. The act grants US authorities and federal agencies access to data stored by US cloud service providers, even when hosted in Europe. This raises concerns about whether European data stored with US-based providers can ever truly be sovereign, even if housed within European borders.
Another concern in Europe: being cut off from US services. If Europe were to suddenly lose access to US cloud services or face rising costs, businesses would experience immediate setbacks, from service disruptions to escalating operational expenses. These concerns, along with a push for more leadership, independence, and economic competitiveness, have led to Europe steadily building its own cloud ecosystem – fostering a network of regional providers and implementing policies that reinforce data independence.
The question has now become, do these changes signal a true tipping point for Europe? Or are they merely the first steps in a much longer transformation?
Who is driving the adoption of sovereignty?Both the public and private sectors play pivotal roles in advancing cloud sovereignty across Europe. Governments have established regulatory frameworks to enhance standards and avoid fragmentation. However, policymaking is often slow and subject to political negotiation, making private sector initiatives crucial in accelerating the shift toward true sovereignty.
The private sector has emerged as a driving force behind the practical implementation of sovereignty ideals. According to Dominique Tessier, Head of Cybersecurity Focus Group at the European Champions Alliance (ECA), “the move to make sure the EU Cloud Certification Scheme will finally include an “upper security layer” is mainly driven by private European companies, as AIRBUS, EDF, Telecom Italia and others, whose efforts are gaining momentum”.
While companies like Microsoft have invested heavily in EU infrastructure to comply with local regulations, concerns remain about whether this represents true sovereignty or just a regulatory workaround. In contrast, European companies and partnerships, such as the joint venture between OVHcloud and Capgemini, are working to offer services independent of US control, aiming to create fully sovereign cloud solutions.
These initiatives reflect a growing acknowledgement of the strategic importance of cloud sovereignty. This is supported by Rahiel Nasir, Research Director, IDC Europe, who states that “interest in sovereignty has moved from governments and regulated sectors to all industry sectors, especially in Europe, and everywhere else where cloud is just beginning to pick up”. These efforts are becoming more widespread, indicating a collaborative push towards achieving European digital independence, but more needs to be done to make this achievable.
How can Europe achieve ‘true sovereignty?’Achieving true cloud sovereignty requires more than just localized data storage, it demands complete independence from hyperscalers. To achieve this, Europe must go beyond compliance and foster a robust ecosystem of local providers that can match and work alongside hyperscalers.
While hyperscalers play a role in the broader cloud landscape, they should not be relied upon for sovereign data. According to Tessier, “the new US Administration has shown that it won’t hesitate to resort either to sudden price increases or even to stiffening delivery policy. It’s time to reduce our dependencies, not to consider that there is no alternative”.
For Nasir, the key is striking a balance. “In an ideal scenario, local providers and global providers should partner for sovereignty to work at scale”. Leveraging their capabilities where appropriate while ensuring critical data and workloads remain within truly sovereign infrastructure.
By shifting away from hyperscaler dependency and building a diverse, sovereign infrastructure, organizations can move beyond regulatory compliance and achieve operational independence within their own jurisdictions.
The path to sovereigntyWhile Europe is leading the way in advocating for cloud and digital sovereignty, achieving true independence requires a strategic balance. Reducing reliance on US hyperscalers while developing competitive local alternatives is crucial. This balance involves leveraging public and private sector initiatives to create an environment where local providers can thrive and compete on a global scale.
Ultimately, sovereignty is not just about regulatory compliance; it's about a strategic vision for independence. Empowering local providers and creating interconnected networks will allow Europe to set its own digital agenda and drive long-term economic and technological growth, helping to achieve “true” sovereignty.
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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro