China Executive Insight - Issue 4, 2011/07
Cloud Computing is anticipated to reap potential revenue of USD 800 billion and the industry is being hailed by analysts as one of the most pervasive technologies to businesses since the widespread adoption of the internet.
China is seeking to capture around 19 percent of this market with anticipated revenues of USD 154 billion (or RMB 1 trillion). The Chinese government views Cloud Computing as a great enabler for the future and has cited it as a 'Strategic Emerging Industry' within the 12th Five Year Plan. Across China, the level of investment from both state-owned and private enterprises is far outstripping the investments being made across the world. Cloud becomes an enabler for "virtualising a nation".
So why is there so much interest in the Cloud within China? What is the Cloud? What does it mean to businesses in the region? What can it really do to provide true benefits and help achieve business targets?