Five European trade associations representing cloud infrastructure providers and business technology users have joined forces to push EU antitrust regulators into taking emergency action against Broadcom, arguing the chipmaker’s handling of VMware has left thousands of smaller cloud providers locked out of a platform they used to build their businesses on.
The Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe, known as CISPE, led the effort, and this time it isn’t going it alone. Belgium’s Beltug, France’s Cigref, Germany’s VOICE, and CIO Platform Nederland all signed onto a joint letter sent to EU officials on July 10, according to Reuters, which reviewed the document. CISPE itself represents nearly 50 cloud infrastructure members across Europe and counts Microsoft and Amazon among its associate members, giving the complaint weight beyond just smaller regional cloud players.
The dispute traces back to changes Broadcom pushed through in VMware’s cloud service provider ecosystem last year, following its acquisition of the virtualization company in 2023. CISPE brought those changes to the European Commission’s attention in March, requesting interim measures on its own. That complaint was enough to prompt Brussels to start asking questions about VMware’s cloud licensing terms. Now, with four more groups behind it, the coalition is accusing Broadcom of imposing steep price increases on VMware’s cloud platform users while cutting off thousands of smaller cloud service providers from being able to deploy or purchase the software at all.
“We therefore urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to act swiftly and impose interim measures now,” the groups wrote, addressing EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera and tech chief Henna Virkkunen directly. Specifically, they’re asking for a transition period of at least three years while the broader investigation into Broadcom’s cloud licensing practices continues.
Broadcom isn’t backing down. A company spokesperson pushed back on the claims, framing CISPE as an organization funded by large hyperscale cloud providers with an interest in distorting how the cloud market actually works. The spokesperson added that Broadcom remains committed to investing heavily in its European VMware Cloud Service Provider partners, positioning that investment as a genuine cloud alternative to the hyperscalers rather than a barrier to competition.
The European Commission acknowledged receiving the letter but has not yet indicated whether it intends to act on the groups’ request for interim measures affecting Europe’s broader cloud services market.
