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

Matrix-based messaging tools are gaining traction among European governments seeking to maintain greater control over sensitive communications data and reduce reliance on US technology suppliers. This interest reflects a broader push toward open-source applications in Europe due to geopolitical uncertainty. However, replacing established applications like Microsoft Teams is likely to be a gradual process due to costs and complexity. Some organizations are choosing to run Matrix-based tools alongside existing platforms.

Matrix, launched in 2014, is an open messaging standard for decentralized communications, allowing users to send messages between compatible apps from different software vendors. It has become a symbol of digital sovereignty, especially in Europe, according to Matthew Hodgson, co-founder of the Matrix Foundation.

There are 65 national and international-scale Matrix deployments in Europe, with notable public sector deployments in France, Germany, and the European Commission. France's Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs uses Matrix-based messaging for over 400,000 civil servants monthly, while Germany's Bundeswehr and healthcare sector have also adopted Matrix-based tools.

The European Commission recently rolled out Element's Matrix-based application with the goal of enabling secure internal communications for over 40,000 employees. The project began in summer 2025, with a proof of concept completed in December, and a mobile rollout is planned. The Commission aims to improve resilience, data control, ownership, and contractual leverage in procurement.

However, technical challenges such as users finding colleagues across different servers and disabling the live presence feature have been encountered.

Element is not intended as a direct replacement for Microsoft Teams, but rather to complement existing workplace applications. It will not have one-to-one parity with Teams, which has broader functionality. Managing employee expectations and providing change management support from senior leadership is crucial for successful adoption, according to Dario Maisto, principal analyst at Forrester.