"French" cloud computing under the wave of criticism

Two "French" cloud computing projects in Orange and SFR, France, have been criticized in the industry since they were prepared in 2011. Most SMEs are dissatisfied with the government's alliance with telecoms giants, who are not comfortable with the needs of the cloud-computing market and criticize their dismissal of staff. In this respect, the two big cloud computing joint enterprise said not to accept.

In September this year, SFR and orange companies announced a succession of cloud computing projects to provide information services directly to enterprises. Now, the two big cloud computing conglomerates: Orange Company-led Cloudwatt and SFR company-led Numergy, funded by 150 million euros from the French government, aim to build a European cloud computing giant that competes with the US Amazon, Microsoft and Google. These two large cloud operators provide information resources, powerful computing power or storage space for the enterprise. Previously, these maintenance was usually very expensive for the enterprise.

The two major cloud computing projects were launched in September to determine the content of the service for the next few months. But their suspicions never ceased. European data center giant Enterprise Interxion and main private network of small and medium-sized enterprises Navahod are not optimistic about the two conglomerates.

Are these two projects feasible?

At first, there was only one cloud computing project: ANDROMÈDE, founded jointly by Orange and Dassault. After the two parted ways, there were two projects: Orange and Thales Joint Cloudwatt and SFR Numergy with Bullg Corporation. In addition, the French Trust office (Caisse des Dép?t) holds one-third per cent of the two private companies.

"It is not normal to fund two of projects at the same time," said Didier Soucheyre, president of Télécom, the French NEO telecoms company's infrastructure operation. "He believes that the two emerging enterprises can not conquer the market, innovation is not strong." "In my opinion, these enterprises have high operating costs and innovative capabilities less than Gandi or Ikoula." In fact, the projects of these innovative SMEs were shot early. ”

"Public shareholders (government agencies) can help us clear the project plan and management rules, and our aim is to provide public cloud computing services with no job cuts," Cloudwatt's chairman, Patrick Starck, replied. "Government funding is a guarantee of success." We have accumulated experience in the "Computing Plan" (plan calcul,20 60 's French Information Independence Program): To attract customers, companies must comply with competition rules with other companies. ”

Independence also has its limitations. Cloudwatt claims to be a new business, with no technical or commercial "legacy" or a broad network of contacts. "Our network is a solid triangle: shareholders, equipment provider customers (such as orange to provide networks, Thales guarantee security), customers."

Numergy Chairman Philippe Tavernier is also very confident about the future. "Numergy is an independent enterprise whose strategic positioning, economic, financial or technical positioning is approved by the Board of Supervisors." In addition, in order to realize the commercial development of the service, Numergy relies on the developed partner network. In addition to SFR and bull companies, it is made up of other IT participants: Information technology consultants, programmers, consulting firms, distributors ...

Who is the client of "French" cloud computing?

Didier Soucheyre, of Neo Telecom, asks: French ' cloud computing will certainly serve government projects, with the help of government policymakers, to help complete the infrastructure. But are pure private enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, among their clients? Neo Telecom is developing its regional business, involving many small and medium-sized enterprises that need data processing centers to maintain information. This is different from the cloud operators that serve the public sector.

"Cloudwatt is not just starting out because they have big shareholders but lack the flexibility of other companies," he says. They are adapted to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises and have not yet included SMEs in their services. ”

Cloudwatt mainly provides cloud devices, such as infrastructure services (IaaS), to provide information resources platform. In addition to individual public institutions, cloud computing companies are willing to work with small and medium-sized enterprises to develop a fixed relationship. Unlike Neo Telecom, Cloudwatt that "there is absolutely no need to develop regional data-processing centres." ”

Numergy hopes to vigorously develop SME customers, set up a number of data processing centers. Philippe Tavernier stressed: "Now, Numergy has established two data-processing centers in France, one in Paris and the other in Lyon." Eventually, we will build a digital center, including more than 10 data processing centers in France and other centres working with European companies.

How does the data "sovereignty" define?

The biggest controversy over cloud computing is the issue of data "sovereignty". The government is funding its own cloud computing program, which aims to avoid being subject to U.S. anti-terrorism laws by putting trustworthy companies under French law. In fact, the Patriot Act has allowed US intelligence agencies to query the data for any personal data, corporate data, including corporate data from the United States that reside in the United States.

"The most important investment task in cloud computing is infrastructure, and the goal is to share resources in our own cloud systems," Cloudwatt, chairman of the board, said Patrick Starck. "We get the shared resources from the cloud system and regroup them." Cloud computing team development requires hundreds of members, and must master OpenStack technology (infrastructure technology to build shared networks). "Our idea is to be in line with existing rules, such as the rules established by the National Information Freedom Committee (CNIL). We should let business owners realize the embarrassment of ' being in a position '. "However, the concept of" sovereign "data has attracted other investors, even without government funding. Bouygues Telecom is planning to use US Microsoft technology to develop its own cloud computing project soon. Bouygues Telecom explained that France's data would be incorporated under French law.

What about foreign companies in France? "If customers want to, they can be in the cloud system in Dublin or Amsterdam (all Microsoft)," said Marc Mossé, director of the Office of Public and Legal affairs at Microsoft, France. In this case, the Patriot Act works. ”

Other possible options?

After Cloudwatt and Numergy, Bouygues Telecom and IBM have expressed their investment in the development of cloud computing projects. Therefore, Neo Telecom believes that government funding is not essential. For Cloudwatt, this is a good signal. "Even IBM has come to France to invest in cloud computing, which suggests a huge market potential." It's so exciting! Patrick Starck explained.

Cloudwatt believes that a booming market dominated by two large corporations is a good choice, while Neo Telecom prefers to choose a different model. "In today's economic era, it is an unexpected opportunity for innovative companies to flourish under the competition of big companies," he said. This is inseparable from the trust board. The chairman of the Internet Gandi Cloud computing Company proposed in August the establishment of a consortium of small and medium enterprises willing to accept the leadership of the Trust board.

Neo Telecom chairman lamented: "We have all the resources, just can't be well integrated into use." We can do a good job with just 20% of the cost. Even though Patrick Starck had said it would not work with any business outside the project, Cloudwatt confirmed that it would be associated with SMEs in certain key areas. Numergy, which has not yet cooperated with small and medium-sized enterprises, says, "Open the door to all participants" and is willing to "work together" with newly-started innovative enterprises to complement each other. "At present, they have not made specific recommendations.

Translated from: November 15, 2012 "France" World newspaper compilation: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology international economic and Technical Cooperation Center Yang

(Responsible editor: The good of the Legacy)