The Luxembourg government and Clarence sign a partnership on a sovereign disconnected cloud

The Minister for Digitalisation, Stéphanie Obertin, welcomes this initiative: "I am delighted with this major step forward in favor of high-quality public services. Today, the Luxembourg State is signing a unique partnership of its kind in Europe, thus relying on a sovereign and disconnected solution for cutting-edge applications. Following the world's first e-embassy, Luxembourg is once again a trailblazer by creating the necessary conditions for data security and its use by administrations to provide public services that benefit citizens and businesses. This partnership with Clarence closely follows the announcement of the MeluXina-AI and AI Factory projects and embodies the government's commitment to increasingly invest in tools that foster the emergence of a national data ecosystem and strengthen Luxembourg's digital sovereignty."

A fully luxembourgish strategic and sovereign partnership

Clarence collaborates with LuxConnect, a 100% state-owned private company and a key player in Tier IV-certified data center operations, and Proximus Luxembourg, a CSSF-regulated Luxembourgish company with proven expertise in managing and utilizing highly confidential data. The technical and operational management of Clarence's infrastructure, fully dedicated to the state, will be directly overseen by the CTIE. This will enable the CTIE to leverage the most advanced technologies for sensitive data while ensuring full confidentiality, complete control, and unwavering sovereignty.

"The disconnected cloud platform, installed in two LuxConnect Tier IV data centers and managed locally, combines strong sovereignty with access to the best cloud capabilities. As a pioneer in Europe, it offers an experience similar to public cloud solutions within a secure environment under Luxembourg jurisdiction. This unique solution not only ensures total data control but also creates value for Luxembourg by reinforcing our digital autonomy." added Paul Konsbruck, CEO of LuxConnect.

A sovereign cloud serving security and legislative innovation

This ambitious partnership enables the Luxembourg government to provide innovative sovereign cloud services specifically designed to meet the needs of end-users, including government entities, municipalities, and national institutions. It paves the way for the development of modern and secure applications tailored to the requirements of the CTIE and its partners. The project guarantees a highly secure processing environment for sharing sensitive data, including public security, defense, as well as unclassified educational and research data.

Moreover, the platform will address specific data legislative requirements, such as the AI Act, by implementing dedicated, secure, and compliant sandboxes. It will also accommodate future regulations like the European Health Data Space. This project serves as a strategic lever to strengthen Luxembourg's digital autonomy while offering users a powerful tool for data processing and sharing in a sovereign framework.

Gérard Hoffmann, CEO of Proximus Luxembourg, added: "Being respectful of European data privacy regulations is not just a legal obligation; it is also a demonstration of commitment to transparency, security, and user trust, while ensuring a solid foundation for innovation and leveraging the potential of modern digital solutions. Clarence and its sovereign disconnected cloud platform are fully aligned with Luxembourg's commitment to being a pillar of trust, compliance, and innovation in the international digital economy."

About Clarence

Clarence, a joint venture between LuxConnect (operator of Tier IV data centers and fiber optic provider) and Proximus Luxembourg (leader in ICT and convergent telecom services), offers a unique sovereign disconnected cloud solution. It is designed for governments, regulated enterprises, international organizations, and businesses handling sensitive data in Europe. Its primary mission is to deliver innovative solutions while ensuring confidentiality, security, and total operational autonomy. www.clarence-cloud.com

Press release by the Ministry for Digitalisation / LuxConnect / Proximus Luxembourg