Cloud service providers ask EU regulator to reinstate VMware partner program

A trade association of cloud service providers (CSPs) has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission (EC) over Broadcom's closure of VMware's CSP partner program. Since Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the number of channel partners has significantly decreased, with a shift towards larger partners serving enterprise clients rather than small-to-medium-sized businesses. The new invite-only program introduced by Broadcom requires CSP partners to operate at least 3,500 cores, making many CSPs ineligible for partnership. The complaint aims to reinstate the CSP partner program, which was terminated in Europe in January, and prevent Broadcom from retaliating against displaced partners.