The Technology Giants and Earth Observation
What roles do Google, Microsoft, Amazon and other technology companies play in Earth observation, and could they reshape the market?
Chapter summary
The technology giants are in EO as platforms, AI developers and buyers rather than satellite operators.
Key takeaways
- 1
Google runs Earth Engine (commercially licensed since 2022) and published AlphaEarth Foundations in 2025; it also buys imagery for Maps.
- 2
Microsoft hosts the Planetary Computer data catalogue and Azure Orbital services.
- 3
Amazon offers AWS Ground Station and hosts open data, and is building its Kuiper broadband constellation, not imaging satellites.
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