by Wang Rui and Qiu Shaolin King & Wood Mallesons’ M&A Group
Introduction
Cloud computing has become quite a hot topic for discussion over the past few years. However, although recent interest in cloud computing has increased, it is not a completely new type of service. For example, when you send an email through Gmail, or store pictures on social media websites, you are using cloud computing services.
In China, cloud computing services has experienced fast and dynamic growth in recent years. The market value of China’s public cloud computing services for the year of 2012 increased by 73 per cent compared to 2011, and the estimated market value for 2013 is expected to reach RMB 6.3 billion.[1] The growth of China’s cloud computing industry has aroused great interest among foreign service providers. In May 2013, Microsoft Corporation announced that it would add several thousand employees to its work force in China as part of a long-term investment in the cloud computing market. [2] However, since foreign investment in the Chinese cloud computing industry is restricted, there are concerns about the short and long term benefits of foreign investment due to the limited participation of foreign investors in the market.[3]Continue Reading CLOUD COMPUTING: KEY TELECOMMUNICATION REGULATORY ISSUES FOR FOREIGN SERVICE PROVIDERS IN CHINA