CMA proposes strategic market status for Microsoft business software

The Competition and Markets Authority proposed strategic market status for Microsoft’s business software ecosystem on 16 October, opening consultation before a final decision.

Software choice under scrutiny

The UK regulator is examining barriers to changing suppliers and combining products. Its possible intervention areas include access for competing AI services, security-software bundling and the choice of cloud on which customers deploy software licences.

These are areas for further evidence and potential action, rather than new obligations already imposed on Microsoft. Strategic market status would not itself mean the company had broken the law.

Responses due in November

The CMA’s case page invites responses on the proposed decision and accompanying roadmap by 13 November 2026. The statutory deadline for its final designation decision is February 2027.

The investigation began on 14 May 2026. The newly published proposal and roadmap are the next stage in that process; businesses can review the consultation documents before responding.

Original sources

CMA announcement, 16 October; official case page and consultation documents.