Microsoft’s business software ecosystem
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether to designate Microsoft as having strategic market status (SMS) in respect of its business software ecosystem.
Invitation to comment
14 May 2026: To assist with its initial SMS investigation, the CMA has published an invitation to comment (ITC) setting out the scope of our investigation, the main avenues of investigation and the potential issues and interventions we are currently considering.
We invite submissions from interested parties on the areas set out in the ITC. We will publish non-confidential responses in due course. If your response contains information that you consider to be confidential, please also submit a non-confidential version of your response for publication.
Case information
14 May 2026: The CMA has launched an initial SMS investigation under Part 1 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024.
The CMA is investigating whether to designate Microsoft as having strategic market status (SMS) in respect of its business software ecosystem.
Launch of SMS investigation
- (14.5.26)
- Press release: CMA launches strategic market status investigation into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem (14.5.26)
Indicative timetable
The table below sets out an indicative timetable for the SMS investigation.
The dates set out below are indicative only and represent our current expectations and estimates for different phases in the investigation and may be subject to change.
This timetable will be updated as necessary throughout the investigation if there are changes to these timings.
Stage 1: Commencement of the SMS investigation
| Timing | Milestone | Engagement |
|---|---|---|
| 14 May 2026 | SMS investigation launch | |
| 14 May 2026 | SMS investigation notice sent to Microsoft and published on CMA website | Microsoft invited to attend introductory meetings with CMA investigation team |
| 14 May 2026 | Invitation to comment published | Microsoft and third parties can respond |
| By end May 2026 | Customer research commences | |
| May to July 2026 | Initial evidence gathering and engagement with Microsoft and third parties including other market participants and UK customers. The CMA will send information notices and engage with stakeholders through calls, meetings and other approaches | Microsoft and other key market participants [footnote 1] respond to CMA information notices. Bilateral meetings and other discussion forums with stakeholders |
| 4 June 2026 | Invitation to comment closes | |
| By end June 2026 | Publication of non-confidential responses to invitation to comment |
Stage 2: Preparation and publication of proposed decision on whether to designate Microsoft with SMS
| Timing | Milestone | Engagement |
|---|---|---|
| July to September 2026 | Further evidence gathering and analysis | This may include Microsoft and other key market participants responding to further CMA information notices, including bilateral meetings |
| September to October 2026 | Preparation of proposed decision including ‘put back’ process with Microsoft and other parties on potentially confidential material | The CMA will share ‘put back’ extracts with Microsoft and third parties for comment |
| October 2026 | Publication of proposed decision for consultation[footnote 2] | Microsoft and third parties respond to consultation |
| November 2026 | Consultation on proposed decision on SMS designation closes |
Stage 3: After consultation on proposed decision
| Timing | Milestone | Engagement |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | Publication of non-confidential responses to proposed decision consultation | |
| November 2026 | Opportunity for Microsoft to make oral representations on proposed decisions on SMS designation | Microsoft may provide oral representations on the proposed decision to decision makers |
| November to December 2026 | Further evidence gathering and engagement with Microsoft and other parties, as necessary | The CMA may issue further information notices or arrange further bilateral meetings |
| January 2027 | Preparation of final decision report including ‘put back’ process with Microsoft and other parties on potentially confidential material | The CMA may share further ‘put back’ extracts with Microsoft and third parties for comment |
| February 2027 | Publication of final decision report and any SMS decision notice | |
| 13 February 2027 | Statutory deadline for issue of SMS decision notice |
Decision makers
The Digital Markets Board Committee (DMBC) oversees and takes certain delegated decisions under the DMCC Act 2024.
Sub-committees of the DMBC have been established under the DMBC to oversee and take certain decisions in specific SMS investigations, in accordance with their terms of reference.
The members for this investigation are as follows:
Contact
Please direct all correspondence or questions in relation to this investigation to: business.software.sms@cma.gov.uk.
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Market participants include customers as well as other providers in business software ecosystems and related sectors. ↩
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Previous SMS investigations have published roadmaps setting out potential interventions at the same time as the proposed decision. During the course of the investigation, we expect to set out publicly our intentions with regard to potential interventions and we will update the case webpage accordingly. The timing of this is yet to be agreed. ↩