Google Cloud Platform (GCP) has announced it will waive data migration fees for customers looking to leave its public cloud, but only under certain conditions. The move comes as US, UK, and European antitrust authorities scrutinize the cloud industry, with Google and others having lodged formal complaints against Microsoft.
In an official blog post, Google detailed the conditions under which it will waive egress fees for customers leaving its cloud platform. The company emphasized that customers should not be held hostage by egress fees, mainly if they are dissatisfied with the services provided
Official Post: Eliminating data transfer fees when migrating off Google Cloud | Google Cloud Blog
The program, however, is not a blanket waiver of egress fees. It is specifically tailored for customers leaving GCP for good, requiring them to terminate their account upon migration completion. Customers must contact their assigned Google account team member and fill out a “free data transfer form” to initiate the process. Approval from Google Support is also necessary, and the migration must be completed within 60 days.
While the primary focus is on customers fully migrating away from GCP, there is provision for a partial migration of services on a case-by-case basis. Google aims to make it easier for customers to switch cloud providers, particularly in light of what rival cloud players allege are unfair licensing practices.
The move by Google to waive egress fees coincides with increased antitrust scrutiny of the cloud sector. At Google’s urging, the UK’s Competition Markets Authority and the US Federal Trade Commission have launched investigations into alleged anti-competitive practices by major cloud providers. Google has been vocal in calling out competitors, notably Microsoft, for what it perceives as unfair business practices.
As the cloud industry faces intensified regulatory scrutiny, Google’s decision to ease the process for customers to migrate their data away from GCP may be seen as a proactive step to align with the expectations of competition watchdogs. The broader implications of these regulatory actions on the cloud market remain to be seen as the industry faces a landscape of evolving competition and regulatory oversight.
Looking to exit the GCP? Take the first steps here: https://cloud.google.com/exit-cloud
