"The probe, which is the fourth since the UK's digital markets competition regime came into force last year, will determine whether Microsoft should be designated as having strategic market status, which would allow the CMA to implement interventions to support competition."
"In today's announcement, the CMA said it had "heard that UK customers may not always be able to effectively combine software from Microsoft with that of other providers, limiting their ability to get access to the best products at the most competitive prices.""
"As well as assessing whether Microsoft is using its position to limit customer choice, the CMA investigation "includes looking at how AI competitors are able to integrate with Microsoft's business software, giving customers access to AI software across suppliers to best suit their needs.""
"In 2025, it described calls from AWS and Google for the UK competition regulator to "intervene and constrain the price" it charges customers to run wares on those rivals' cloud plaforms as "extraordinary and unprecedented.""
The UK Competition and Markets Authority is conducting a strategic market status investigation into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem. The probe will assess whether Microsoft should be designated as having strategic market status, which would enable interventions to support competition. The CMA is concerned that Microsoft’s software licensing practices may reduce competition in cloud services. The CMA has heard that UK customers may not always be able to effectively combine Microsoft software with offerings from other providers, limiting access to the best products at competitive prices. The investigation also examines how AI competitors can integrate with Microsoft business software so customers can access AI software across suppliers. Microsoft has faced prior regulatory friction over cloud pricing and licensing practices.
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