Microsoft is making significant strides in expanding its data center presence in Spain. The company recently announced its plans to construct a state-of-the-art data center campus in Aragon, northeastern Spain, a development set to boost the region’s digital infrastructure significantly. While exact details regarding the location, specifications, and project timelines weren’t disclosed, local sources suggest that Microsoft is eyeing three key sites for development in the Aragon region.
These sites reportedly include a 63-acre space within the Recycling Technology Park (PTR), as well as lands in La Puebla de Alfindén to the east of Zaragoza and La Muela to the west. The comprehensive build-out is expected to span seven years, underscoring the company’s commitment to long-term investment in the area.
Aragon, situated in northeastern Spain and west of Barcelona, consists of the provinces of Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Microsoft’s ambitious project in the region is aimed at providing intelligent cloud solutions and services to businesses and public entities across Europe. In turn, this will drive digital transformation, innovation, and employment opportunities not only in Aragon but throughout Spain.
Alberto Granados, President of Microsoft Spain, highlights the significance of Microsoft’s investments in Spain, emphasizing the potential to promote innovation, create new jobs, and catalyze digital transformation. Furthermore, Jorge Azcón, the President of the Government of Aragon, views Microsoft’s project as a significant contribution to the local economy, bringing international relevance and innovation to the region.
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This data center campus in Aragon is in addition to Microsoft’s upcoming data center region in Madrid, which is set to become operational in the near future. The Madrid region will feature data centers in the north and east of the Community of Madrid. Partnering with companies like Ferrovial, Microsoft is actively expanding its presence in the area, with facilities planned in San Sebastian de los Reyes, Algete, and Meco.
Notably, Microsoft will become the latest U.S. cloud provider to launch a region in Spain. Google took the lead by launching a Spanish region in Madrid in May 2022, while Amazon initiated an AWS cloud region in Aragon in November 2022. Furthermore, Oracle opened a Madrid region in September, with plans for a second one on the horizon. Both Google and Oracle collaborated with Telefonica on their region developments.
Microsoft’s project aligns with its broader initiative, the EU Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud, launched on January 1. This initiative extends Microsoft’s commitment to data residency within the European Union, ensuring that not only the residence but also the processing of data from European citizens takes place within the EU. This reflects Microsoft’s dedication to data sovereignty, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
The planned campus in Aragon will offer Microsoft’s complete suite of intelligent cloud services, including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Microsoft Power Platform, catering to both private and public clients in Europe. The campus will function as a catalyst for innovation, economic growth, and job creation, further accelerating the digitalization of organizations across various industries and sizes.
An analysis by IDC suggests that the new data center campus could significantly contribute to Spain’s GDP, potentially adding 8.4 billion euros and creating 69,000 indirect jobs in the period from 2026 to 2030. Aragon, with its highly qualified talent pool, public support for innovation, robust infrastructure, available land, and strategic geographical location, is well-positioned to become a pivotal region for data center implementation.
Furthermore, Microsoft is committed to sustainable operations of its data centers, aiming to achieve a 100% renewable energy supply for all its operations, including data centers, by 2025. The company’s cloud services comply with over 100 standards, including international regulations like GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, FedRAMP, SOC 1 and SOC 2, and country-specific standards. In Spain, Microsoft also holds the High-Level Compliance Certification of the National Security Scheme (ENS).
Microsoft’s bold expansion in Spain, coupled with its commitment to sustainability and regulatory compliance, highlights its dedication to supporting digital transformation, innovation, and job creation, ultimately bolstering the technology industry and the economy in the region and the country as a whole.
