Google has announced it will waive data transfer fees for organisations running workloads across multiple cloud platforms in the European Union and the United Kingdom, just days before the EU’s new Data Act comes into force on Friday.
The move comes as regulators in Brussels and London push to boost competition in the fast-growing cloud market, currently dominated by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and, to a lesser extent, Google Cloud.
Under the Data Act, providers are permitted to pass on data transfer costs to customers, but only “at cost.” Google said its new policy goes further, offering the transfers entirely free under its multicloud package, Data Transfer Essentials.
“This is available today at no cost to customers,” Jeanette Manfra, senior director of global risk and compliance at Google Cloud, wrote in a blog post, framing the move as a simple, no-barrier solution for customers working across multiple platforms.
The policy contrasts with rivals: Microsoft introduced cost-based transfer fees in the EU last month, according to details on its website, while AWS says EU customers can apply for reduced rates in specific cases.
Many organisations rely on multiple cloud providers to balance resilience, security, and flexibility. By scrapping fees outright, Google is positioning itself as the most customer-friendly option in the multicloud race.
The EU Data Act seeks to make switching between providers easier and more affordable — a shift that could reshape competition in the cloud industry as tech giants vie for dominance.
About the Author
