The CMA has identified a number of concerns regarding the dominance of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure in the market.

Market Structure and Dominance

The CMA has found that AWS and Microsoft Azure have a significant market share in the UK public cloud infrastructure services market. According to the CMA, AWS has a market share of around 35%, while Microsoft Azure has a market share of around 20%. These figures are based on data from 2020 and may have changed since then. Key statistics:

• • AWS: 35% market share
• • Microsoft Azure: 20% market share
• •
  

  Cloud computing adoption fuels UK’s growing cloud infrastructure market.

  It includes servers, storage, networking, and security services. The UK’s cloud infrastructure market is expected to continue growing, driven by the increasing adoption of cloud computing by businesses and individuals alike.

  The UK Cloud Infrastructure Market: A Growing Industry

  The UK cloud infrastructure market has experienced significant growth in recent years, with a projected value of around £9 billion in 2023. This growth is expected to continue, driven by the increasing adoption of cloud computing by businesses and individuals alike.

  Cloud Computing Dominance Raises Concerns About Market Concentration and Consumer Welfare.

  of the cloud computing market.

  The State of Competition in Cloud Computing

  The cloud computing market has experienced rapid growth in recent years, with the global market size expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2025. However, despite this growth, the market is dominated by just two players: Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft. According to the CMA, these two companies have a combined market share of 70% of the cloud computing market.

  Market Concentration

  The dominance of AWS and Microsoft in the cloud computing market raises concerns about market concentration. The CMA’s provisional view is that competition is not working as well as it could, and that the market is not providing the benefits of competition to consumers.

  Key Statistics

• AWS and Microsoft have a combined market share of 70% of the cloud computing market. The global cloud computing market is expected to reach $1 trillion by The two largest providers, AWS and Microsoft, each have a share of these markets of 30 to 40%. ### The Impact on Consumers*

The Impact on Consumers

The dominance of AWS and Microsoft in the cloud computing market has significant implications for consumers.

The Challenges of Cloud Infrastructure Investment

Cloud infrastructure is a significant investment, and the costs can be substantial. The high upfront costs of building and maintaining cloud infrastructure can be a major barrier to entry for alternative cloud suppliers. This is because the costs of purchasing and deploying hardware, software, and personnel are substantial. The cost of purchasing and deploying hardware can be particularly high, with prices ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 or more for a single server. The cost of software and personnel can also be significant, with prices ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 or more for a single software license and personnel costs ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 or more per year. Additionally, the cost of maintaining and upgrading cloud infrastructure can be significant, with costs ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 or more per year.

The Impact on Alternative Cloud Suppliers

The high costs of cloud infrastructure can have a significant impact on alternative cloud suppliers. These suppliers may struggle to compete with established cloud providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, which have significant resources and economies of scale. Alternative cloud suppliers may need to invest heavily in marketing and sales to attract customers, which can be a significant challenge. They may also need to invest in research and development to stay competitive, which can be a significant challenge.

Remedies to Tackle the Issue of Unfair Competition

Ofcom has previously suggested that the CMA should consider imposing a broad range of remedies to tackle this issue of unfair competition. These remedies could include:

• Forcing companies to disclose their business practices and models: This could involve requiring companies to provide detailed information about their business practices, including their use of data and algorithms. Regulating the use of data and algorithms: This could involve setting rules and guidelines for the use of data and algorithms in business, including restrictions on the use of personal data. Promoting transparency and accountability: This could involve requiring companies to be transparent about their business practices and models, and holding them accountable for any unfair or deceptive practices. ## The Role of the CMA in Regulating Unfair Competition*

The Role of the CMA in Regulating Unfair Competition

The CMA has a crucial role to play in regulating unfair competition. As the UK’s competition authority, the CMA is responsible for enforcing competition law and promoting fair competition in the UK market. Enforcing competition law: The CMA enforces competition law by investigating and prosecuting cases of anti-competitive behavior, such as price-fixing and bid-rigging. Promoting fair competition: The CMA promotes fair competition by providing guidance and advice to businesses on how to compete fairly and lawfully.*

The Impact of Unfair Competition on Consumers

Unfair competition can have a significant impact on consumers.

The Impact of Cloud Computing on the UK Market

The UK market has been significantly impacted by the rise of cloud computing, with both Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure playing a crucial role in shaping the industry. As the demand for cloud services continues to grow, it is essential to examine the measures that can be implemented to address the market-wide concerns that have arisen.

The Concerns of the UK Market

The UK market has been plagued by concerns regarding data security, pricing, and vendor lock-in.

The CMA’s Investigation into the UK’s Food and Drink Industry

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating the UK’s food and drink industry for several years, focusing on the dominance of a few large players in the market. The CMA’s provisional findings, released in 2022, revealed that the industry is characterized by a lack of competition, leading to higher prices and reduced choice for consumers.

The Impact of Market Dominance

The CMA’s investigation found that the UK’s food and drink industry is dominated by a few large players, including supermarkets, food manufacturers, and distributors. These companies have significant market power, which they use to influence prices, limit competition, and restrict consumer choice.