Brussels, 17^th December 2024 — The Open Cloud Coalition (OCC), a newly formed alliance of leading cloud providers and users, today announced the admission of five new members, marking a significant step in its mission to create a fairer and more open cloud ecosystem. Launched on 29^th October, the OCC has grown rapidly, with its membership increasing by 50% in just over six weeks.

The new members – Adarga, BlackBox Hosting, Dark Matter, DataVita, and National Cloud – join an initiative that unites challenger cloud providers and users, advocating for fair competition and innovation in the cloud market. Their addition strengthens the OCC’s collective voice as regulatory scrutiny of the cloud sector intensifies across Europe, with inquiries underway by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and authorities in Denmark and Spain.

Nicky Stewart, Senior Advisor to the OCC, said, “This surge of support from influential cloud providers, users, and experts underscores the critical need to address anti-competitive practices in the cloud industry. The OCC is committed to championing openness, transparency, interoperability, diversity, and competition – essential pillars for driving innovation, economic growth, and success for consumers and businesses of all sizes.”

Matthew Burden, CEO of BlackBox Hosting, said, “We’re proud to be part of the Open Cloud Coalition, standing alongside providers dedicated to fair and transparent cloud services. Collaboration through initiatives like the OCC is essential for shaping a future where openness and accessibility in cloud services benefit businesses and communities alike.”

Danny Quinn, Managing Director of DataVita, said, “We are excited to join the Open Cloud Coalition and support its mission to drive innovation, collaboration, and progress in the cloud ecosystem. By working together with industry leaders, we aim to advance sustainable, open, and secure cloud solutions that benefit businesses, communities, and the wider economy.”

Seb Matthews, Vice President of Adarga, said, “We are thrilled to join the Open Cloud Coalition and fully embrace its values of transparency, openness, and competition. As leaders in AI development within the defence and national security sector, we are deeply committed to driving innovation that addresses the complex challenges facing our industry. We firmly believe that collaboration is key to achieving this – by working together, we can foster greater trust, interoperability, and resilience across the cloud market.

Joining this coalition presents an invaluable opportunity to not only share our expertise but also to learn from the diverse perspectives of fellow members. Together, we can unlock the full potential of the multi-cloud ecosystem, driving advancements that benefit not just our industry, but society as a whole.”

Daniel Tremayne-Pitter, CEO of Dark Matter, said, “Dark Matter is thrilled to support the Open Cloud Coalition to drive meaningful change and shape the future of cloud computing across the UK, EU and beyond. Through our continued research, we believe it has never been more important to advocate for openness in digital innovation. We must foster a fairer, more diverse cloud ecosystem. Acting in our position as an advisory member, we are committed to help define a new era of cloud technologies that are equitable and sustainable.”

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