Tencent is stepping up its push into Europe’s cloud computing market, setting the stage for a showdown with American heavyweights Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
The Chinese technology conglomerate, best known for its dominance in social media and gaming back home, now wants to leverage years of expertise honed in those sectors to carve out a space in the increasingly crowded European market.
Dowson Tong, CEO of Tencent’s cloud group, told CNBC that the company’s aim is not to go head-to-head across the entire spectrum but to double down on specialized technologies where Tencent can differentiate itself.
Tencent will focus on offering cloud solutions that optimize video streaming, enhance online gaming performance, and support large-scale “super apps”—integrated platforms like WeChat that combine messaging, payments, and more.
A case in point: Tencent has worked with France’s Orange to support its “Max it” app in Africa. In gaming, Tencent’s cloud technology is designed to reduce lag, a critical factor for user experience in fast-growing online gaming sectors.
Another strategic lever is multi-cloud flexibility. Rather than betting on exclusive contracts, Tencent is targeting European clients who increasingly prefer working with a suite of cloud vendors rather than locking into a single provider.
