Cloud computing inquiry is threat to UK investment

Microsoft has warned that it could cut investment in digital infrastructure in Britain if the competition watchdog decides to make changes to the cloud computing sector.

In the technology group’s latest clash with the UK regulator, which is investigating the market, it said: “Intervention into a well-functioning market is likely to have significant consequences, including increasing prices for cloud users (vis-à-vis their global competitors) and reducing investment in cloud infrastructure services from both Microsoft (including in UK data centres and cloud applications) and customers.”

It also heavily criticised the Competition and Markets Authority’s analysis to date, saying its reports “fail to engage with the direct and consistent evidence of positive customer outcomes” and that some facts had been “glossed over in the conclusions”.

Microsoft has