CISPE (Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe)

⏳ With the EU #DataAct deadline approaching, CISPE is committed to ensuring its effective implementation. While obligations around customer switching and #DataPortability won’t take effect until September 2025, our members and customers are already working to identify #CloudInfrastructure services that will meet these requirements.   🧭 The CISPE Cloud Switching Framework provides a clear roadmap for vendors and customers to choose and implement compliant cloud infrastructure services. It offers practical guidelines and technical requirements to help businesses prepare for upcoming portability and switching obligations with ease.   📑 Swipe to learn more ⬇️

More exciting developments ahead! Stay tuned for upcoming announcements from CISPE (Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe) and our partners, including the Gaia-X Association for Data and Cloud (AISBL). We're ready to make waves in the cloud industry!!

Yesterday at the Eclipse Foundation Cloud Kick-off at #MWC25 in Barcelona, CISPE Secretary General, Francisco Mingorance, spoke on the future of Europe’s cloud sovereignty, highlighting the role of open-source #CloudInfrastructure in building a federated and distributed cloud ecosystem.   🚫 Europe’s strength lies in diversity, innovation, and collaboration – not centralisation. While some push for a #EuroStack – a single, monolithic European cloud champion to rival hyperscalers – Francisco made it clear: there may be a better way.   ✅ Europe should build a #EuroMesh: a multi-cloud ecosystem that scales up Europe’s diverse providers into a powerful force.   CISPE supports the Fulcrum Project as a practical and rapid path to an open-source, common multi-layer federated infrastructure that connects CSPs, CAPs, MSPs, ISPs, Carriers, and IXPs into a trusted "Cloud Continuum".   A critical component of Fulcrum is effective deployment of #GaiaX verifiable credentials so that customers can benefit. If just 10% of cloud procurement tenders required Gaia-X labels for sovereign services, it could unlock an additional €20 billion annual market for European cloud providers 💡.   As Francisco emphasised, the future of Europe’s digital autonomy is in our hands. To achieve strategic autonomy and sovereignty in cloud services, we must act boldly – now, with a clear vision. 🚀 Gaia-X Association for Data and Cloud (AISBL)

At its General Assembly in Bergamo, Italy, CISPE reaffirmed its commitment to a fully European governance structure with key amendments to its Articles of Association 📑.   🇪🇺 Under the new rules, only European entities can hold board positions, while non-European cloud vendors with annual revenues exceeding €10 billion may participate as adherent members - without influencing CISPE’s governance.   🇪🇺 The updated framework also establishes a Sovereignty and Strategic Autonomy Committee, responding to the increasing demand from European cloud users, government agencies, and private sector customers for competitive, homegrown #CloudInfrastructure and #AI solutions.   👏 Newly elected board member Jake Madders (Hyve Managed Hosting) welcomed the move, emphasising its benefits for #European #CloudServices providers:   “This change ensures that our leadership is deeply rooted in European interests, allowing us to better address the unique challenges faced by cloud infrastructure providers and their customers across Europe.”   🔗 Read more from George Fitzmaurice at ITPro: https://lnkd.in/eJtXbSpP

Earlier this month, the newly established European Cloud Competition Observatory (ECCO) published its first reports, including a critical assessment of Broadcom following last year’s brutal and unacceptable changes to VMware licensing agreements. 🔍   Alongside monitoring the implementation of the July 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between CISPE and Microsoft, ECCO was created to track unfair #SoftwareLicensing practices that threaten choice for European #CloudServices customers. Broadcom’s actions are a prime example of anti-competitive practices.   🔴 ECCO had “no choice” but to rate Broadcom’s status as Red (Critical). Its approach remains a major concern, with:   ▪️ Little to no engagement with CISPE members and customers on key issues. ▪️ Continued imposition of unfair licensing practices, restricting cloud choice for European customers.   Commenting on the findings, Francisco Mingorance, Secretary General of CISPE, stressed the importance of ECCO’s role in highlighting the need for enforcement action to correct market distortions:   "Regulators must be reminded that enforcement action is sometimes essential to curb ongoing unfair practices. In today’s geopolitical context, it is imperative that the rule of law should not be compromised in hopes of defusing potential trade tensions." 📑 Read the full report 👇

Last week’s publication of the Commission Work Programme for 2025 confirms that the Digital Networks Act (DNA) is set to be introduced in 2025, along with other important initiatives such as the #Cloud and #AI Development Act 📑. As we await updates on the DNA, especially the three studies under development by EY and WIK, it is a good moment to revisit CISPE’s response to the White Paper, in which we raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of some of its proposals: 1️⃣ Extending telecom regulations to #CloudServices: This approach, based on a questionable premise, risks creating unnecessary bureaucracy and undermining the #EU's digital objectives. 2️⃣ The proposed ‘network levy’: Widely criticised, this proposal could disrupt interconnection markets and harm the broader internet ecosystem. The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)’s recent IP-IC Report highlights that the few persistent interconnection issues can be tackled under existing EU rules. 3️⃣ Overlooking SMEs: The focus on large, incumbent telcos and their issues with large content providers largely overlooks the needs of SMEs, risking their role as the backbone of the EU economy. 📑 Read CISPE’s full contribution to the debate ⬇

“There will need to be more #DataCentres, or we literally need to turn off the digital lights” – CISPE’s Alban SCHMUTZ💡. In December, industry leaders and stakeholders gathered in Brussels for an engaging event co-hosted by CISPE and The European Data Centre Association - EUDCA, in partnership with Euractiv. The event explored the critical role data centres play in the EU’s green and digital transitions, while demystifying their operations and addressing common misconceptions. One common misconception concerns data centres and sustainability ♻️. While the growing demand for #AI, #CloudComputing, and online services increases power and water usage, the industry is actively working to mitigate its environmental impact. Initiatives like the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact have already set ambitious targets for achieving climate-neutral data centres by 2030 🌍. 🔗 Discover more insights from the discussion: https://lnkd.in/ebwjG89q

🚀 CISPE has reinforced its commitment to a fully European-driven governance structure with the election of a new board at its General Assembly in Bergamo, Italy. 🇪🇺   CISPE is now the largest and only fully European-led trade body advocating for #CloudInfrastructure service providers and their customers across Europe.   Members have updated the Articles of Association to ensure that only European entities can hold board positions, while non-European cloud vendors with annual revenues exceeding €10 billion may remain as adherent members without influencing governance.   The new governance framework also introduces a Sovereignty and Strategic Autonomy Committee, responding to growing demands from European cloud users, government agencies, and private sector customers for competitive, homegrown cloud infrastructure and AI solutions.   🗳️ At this General Assembly, six seats were up for election. The newly elected board members, who will serve a three-year term, are:   ✅ Alexander Windbichler (Anexia) ✅ Jake Madders (Hyve Managed Hosting)   Returning board members re-elected for another term:   ✅ Jacqueline van de Werken (Leaseweb) ✅ David CHASSAN (OUTSCALE) ✅ Lorenzo Chiriatti (REGISTER S.p.A.)   After playing a foundational role in establishing CISPE as Europe’s leading cloud infrastructure trade body, Amazon Web Services (AWS) chose not to seek re-election. The representatives from Gigas and UpCloud did also not seek re-election.   CISPE extends its thanks to Stephane, Diego and Antti for their dedicated service, insights, and commitment over the years. 👏 All three companies remain active members of CISPE.   🌐 At a time of growing concern over economic and geopolitical dependencies, the new board and governance framework strengthens CISPE’s focus on Europe’s resilient, competitive, and independent cloud ecosystem.   🔗 Read the full statement: https://lnkd.in/da8EMN_j

🚨 ECCO Report: Microsoft Rated Amber, Broadcom Raises Red Flags 🚩   The European Cloud Competition Observatory (ECCO) today published its first reports. Established by CISPE, ECCO monitors the implementation of the July 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CISPE and Microsoft, as well as broader unfair #SoftwareLicensing practices that threaten cloud choice for European customers.   🟠 Microsoft rated Amber: Microsoft has made some progress but has not yet fully met the expectations of some CISPE members related to the July 2024 agreement. Further action is needed in:   ▪️ Developing the hosting product proposed under the MoU, notwithstanding continued collaborative engagement. ▪️ Addressing concerns over recent changes to its SPLA programme.   🔴 Broadcom rated Red (Critical): Broadcom’s approach remains a major concern, with:   ▪️ Little to no engagement with CISPE members and customers on key issues. ▪️ Continued imposition of unfair licensing practices, restricting cloud choice for European customers.   Commenting on the reports, Francisco Mingorance, Secretary General of CISPE, noted:   “Last summer, CISPE and Microsoft came to an agreement that sought to end unfair software practices and to create new benefits for all European cloud infrastructure service providers. But, any agreement is only as good as its execution, so we created ECCO to ensure that commitments made were delivered. This report is an important part of that process.”   📑 Both reports are now available for download: https://cispe.cloud/ecco

📢 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: CISPE is proud to welcome the Danish Cloud Community and Microsoft as new members, further strengthening the diversity and representation of the European #CloudInfrastructure sector.   ✅ The Danish Cloud Community joins as an Associate Member, a category reserved for fellow industry associations. ✅ Microsoft applied for, and has been accepted as, a non-voting Adherent Member Associate and Adherent Members do not vote are not eligible to join the Board. They are therefore not able to influence CISPE policy or direction. Governance changes agreed at the last General Assembly further strengthen CISPE’s European leadership, mandating that at least 75% of the Board and membership must consist of European businesses. CISPE’s Secretary General, Francisco Mingorance, applauded the development noting that “we welcome both these new important members. CISPE continues to attract new members and is clearly regarded as the leading association campaigning for the interests of cloud infrastructure providers and their customers.”