Matrix gains ground in Europe’s public sector — but replacing Teams is another matter

Matrix-based messaging tools are gaining traction among European governments that seek to gain greater control over sensitive communications data and lessen their reliance on US technology suppliers. The growing interest reflects a broader push toward open-source applications in Europe amid geopolitical uncertainty. Yet the costs and complexity of replacing established applications such as Microsoft Teams mean any shift away from proprietary software is likely to be gradual, with some organizations choosing to run Matrix-based tools alongside existing platforms. Launched in 2014, Matrix is an open messaging standard for decentralized communications. Similar to email, the standard allows users to send messages between Matrix-compatible apps from different software vendors, including the open-source Element, Rocket.Chat, and Automattic’s Beeper. Matrix began as an “interesting experiment” in creating a communications standard for the wider internet, but has since become “the poster child for digital sovereignty, especially in Europe,” said Matthew Hodgson, co-founder of the Matrix Foundation. There are 65 “national- and international-scale” Matrix deployments being tracked in Europe…

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