Regulators Investigate Amazon and Microsoft's Cloud Dominance in the UK

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is launching an investigation into major cloud service providers, including Microsoft and Amazon, over concerns related to cloud services. The investigation follows a report by telecoms regulator Ofcom, which identified issues such as charges for moving data out of the cloud, discounts for using only one provider, and technical barriers to switching between providers. Ofcom expressed particular concerns about Microsoft's software licensing practices. The CMA's inquiry group will assess whether competition in the market is working effectively and determine any necessary actions. The investigation could take up to 18 months to complete.