Broadcom Faces EU Antitrust Complaint Over VMware Licensing Practices

Brussels, March 21, 2026 – The Cloud Infrastructure Service Providers in Europe (CISPE) has filed a competition complaint with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition (DG Competition) against Broadcom, alleging anti-competitive practices related to its VMware software licensing and partner program. The complaint, filed on March 19, 2026, centers on Broadcom’s actions following its $69 billion acquisition of VMware in October 2023 [1], [2].

The Core of the Complaint

CISPE argues that Broadcom has significantly increased prices for VMware products, in some cases by more than 1,000 percent [1], [3]. The company terminated its VMware Cloud Service Provider program in Europe in January 2026, limiting access to VMware software for many European cloud service providers (CSPs) [1]. CISPE claims this move has effectively excluded most European CSPs from selling VMware products, reducing customer choice and threatening the viability of numerous businesses [3].

Allegations of Unfair Practices

The complaint details several specific practices CISPE considers anti-competitive:

• Price Hikes: Substantial increases in VMware software licensing costs.
• Program Termination: The ending of the VMware Cloud Service Provider program, drastically reducing partner access.
• Bundling: Requirements to purchase products together regardless of customer needs.
• Upfront Payments & Minimum Commitments: Demanding payment in advance and committing to usage levels based on potential rather than actual consumption [4].

Impact on the European Cloud Market

CISPE warns that Broadcom’s actions could force many European CSPs to exit the market, leading to virtual monopolies and increased reliance on overseas providers [1]. This, the organization argues, undermines efforts to build a sovereign European cloud infrastructure and weakens strategic autonomy.

CISPE’s Request for Intervention

Given the urgency of the situation, CISPE is requesting interim measures from the European Commission to halt Broadcom’s alleged abuse. Specifically, the organization seeks:

• Suspension of the partner program termination.
• Reinstatement of the ‘white label’ program to allow smaller providers access to VMware software.
• Safeguards against retaliation from Broadcom.
• Penalties for non-compliance [3].

Looking Ahead

The European Commission has not yet announced whether it will investigate the complaint or take any immediate action. This case highlights the growing scrutiny of large technology companies and their impact on competition within the European market. The outcome of this complaint could have significant implications for the future of the cloud computing landscape in Europe.