Brussels, Tuesday 29th October — The Open Cloud Coalition (OCC), a new alliance of leading cloud providers and users, launched today in the UK and EU.

The OCC launches with 10 members across multiple cloud markets, including international companies such as Centerprise International, Civo, Gigas, and Google Cloud, and domestic companies such as ControlPlane, DTP Group, Prolinx, Pulsant, Clairo and Room 101. The OCC’s mission is to champion openness, interoperability, and fair competition across the cloud landscape, fostering a more innovative, transparent, resilient and secure cloud ecosystem that benefits customers in the UK, EU, and beyond. The coalition has urged European competition authorities to be “rigorous and brave” in their ongoing examination of the cloud sector.

As a key part of supporting this mission, the OCC will be releasing research about the cloud market to inform UK and EU regulators, while engaging in consultations on competition and market fairness. Through open dialogue with regulators, these efforts will support the UK and EU’s commitment to fostering a dynamic and competitive cloud market.

This launch comes at a pivotal moment, with regulators across Europe intensifying scrutiny on the cloud market. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently investigating potential anti-competitive practices by dominant cloud providers, a move that could reshape the industry. In parallel, other European countries, such as Spain and Denmark, are conducting their own inquiries, reflecting growing concerns about market concentration and vendor lock-in.

Adding to this momentum, a new European Commission is due to be confirmed by the end of the year, with the OCC determined to ensure that fair competition and openness in the cloud market is part of the policy agenda for the European institutions for the next five years.

Nicky Stewart, a senior cloud industry veteran and OCC spokesperson, said, “As cloud infrastructure becomes indispensable, many businesses find themselves trapped in restrictive agreements, facing high costs and barriers when trying to switch or adopt multi-cloud strategies. The OCC is determined to reverse this trend by promoting a more competitive and flexible market and driving the adoption of open standards.”

“The cloud market lacks the level playing field required to drive innovation, competition, and value for customers. A dedicated platform campaigning on these issues is needed to advocate for fairness, openness, and interoperability, ensuring that regulations and industry practices support these principles.”

“The launch of the Open Cloud Coalition couldn’t come at a more critical time. As regulatory scrutiny increases, it’s vital that all voices are heard to ensure the cloud ecosystem remains competitive and innovative. Our founding principles are very clear that each member will have an equal voice. We urge all companies who share this vision to join us.”

Diego Cabezudo, CEO of Gigas said, “Customers, whatever their size, their sector, their origin, must be able to choose the cloud-based solutions that work best for them. At Gigas, we are excited to join the Open Cloud Coalition to advocate for a fair and open cloud market that provides customers with choice and quality of services.”

Howard Hall, Managing Director of DTP Group said, “I am thrilled to be a part of this collective effort aimed at fostering greater competition, resilience, and security within the cloud computing market. Our shared goal is to create a dynamic environment that not only drives innovation but also enhances the commercial competitiveness, reliability and safety of cloud services for businesses and consumers alike. I’m delighted that so many leading organisations across the cloud computing space have come together to drive forward this important agenda as part of the Open Cloud Coalition, and I look forward to engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders over the coming months”.

Mark Boost, CEO and Co-Founder of Civo said, “We’re excited to join the coalition in promoting a fairer UK cloud market. Together, we can drive greater openness, transparency, and interoperability, to unlock the full potential of a multi-cloud future.”

Ashley Ward, CTO of ControlPlane and member of the coalition said, “The Open Cloud Coalition represents a transformative force in the cloud industry, driving openness, resilience, and innovation. By joining this initiative, we’re advocating for a cloud environment where businesses can operate freely, without the constraints of vendor lock-in. Together, we’re working to shape the future of cloud services with a commitment to fairness, interoperability, and fostering a competitive marketplace.”

For more information or to join the OCC, visit www.opencloudcoalition.com or contact us at info@opencloudcoalition.com.