IDC Gives Licensing Requirement Readout at Trusted Cloud Summit

On July 26, IDC published a readout on the Trusted Cloud Summit and Zhang Jianhua, director of MIIT ICT marketing answered cloud business license questions. Zhang stated that cloud services are categorized as IDC services and should obtain an IDC license in order to legally operate. He also stated that he understands that the cloud business community feels that they are ‘wearing a straitjacket’ but wanted to reassure everyone that this is for the long-term benefit of building a solid base for cloud business. 
 
To understand the IDC license registration process more clearly, companies should look to the 2012 Notice on Further Regulating Market Access for IDC Business and Internet Access Services for detailed requirements.
 
For companies that already hold IDC licenses and are offering cloud or CDN services, MIIT requires these companies to apply and obtain an operating license to continue providing services. 
 
Zhang reminded the foreign business community that domestic cloud service licenses will not be granted to foreign invested companies and reminds all businesses to follow WTO and CEPA regulation as well.