Oracle to increase data centre footprint in Europe, agrees IoT R&D deal with Vodafone

29 Sep 2014

Loïc le Guisquet, executive vice-president for Oracle EMEA

SAN FRANCISCO – Business software and computing giant Oracle is to increase its data centre and R&D footprint in Europe in the coming year, the company’s EMEA executive vice-president Loïc le Guisquet revealed.

Oracle has also agreed to enter into an internet of things (IoT) R&D collaboration with mobile communications giant Vodafone to capitalise on the mobile operator’s expertise in the area of machine-to-machine (M2M) devices.

Speaking at this year’s Oracle OpenWorld conference, le Guisquet said that among the infrastructure investments will be the launch of two new data centres in Germany to support the growing adoption of cloud applications by German businesses.

“The data centres will be a testament to best practice which now enables us to launch a data centre in a faster, more strategic way while complementing the investments already made in facilities in the UK, the Netherlands and around the world,” he said.

Le Guisquet said that as well as announcing new initiatives in Africa, where the company will work alongside governments as well as private-sector and non-profit organisations, Oracle has been on an organic growth and acquisition strategy.

The company acquired a number of companies, including Compendium, Corente, BlueKLai, BighMachines, TOA, GreenBytes, LiveLook and Micros.

He said Oracle is also investing in R&D and innovation in the EMEA region, with investment in 12 development centres in 12 countries across the region.

“Our development centres are also expanding through initiatives such as the recently announced Big Data Center of Competence in Barcelona, in conjunction with our customer CaixaBank.

“The centre will collaborate with universities, and public-sector institutions and organisations, as well as customers in the private sector to develop, refine and share knowledge about big data technologies.”

The internet of things economy

Le Guisquet said Oracle is keeping a steely focus on opportunities in areas such as big data, the internet of things and software defined networks (SDNs).

He added that the company is constantly collaborating with its most valued customers, such as Vodafone, to create new ways of working together that maximise the rapid advances in digital technology and communication services.

“For instance, I am excited about both the opportunity offered by the internet of things and the possibilities our two companies could create together across a range of industries, as well as the role that global connectivity plays in delivering the promise of the cloud,” le Guisquet said.

“I believe that Vodafone’s leading positions in both M2M and digital networks combined with our laser focus on becoming No 1 in the cloud with the broadest cloud offering in the industry, will create a compelling combination and many future opportunities for our customers and our customers’ customers.”

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

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