Chinese internet and video-gaming giant NetEase is shutting down one of its public cloud computing services amid intense competition in a crowded market.
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The Hangzhou-based company on Friday informed its corporate clients that its public cloud service would be taken offline on April 7, citing a “business strategy adjustment”. Clients with unused credits in their accounts are eligible for a refund upon request, according to a message seen by the South China Morning Post.
A customer service representative confirmed the information, urging existing customers to migrate to other cloud platforms before the service ceases operations. The service’s domain, 163yun.com, now redirects visitors to NetEase’s big data solution business, Shufan.
NetEase did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
The abrupt termination of its nearly decade-long service comes as China’s public cloud market reaches a turning point, driven by the rapid surge in artificial intelligence (AI) – a sector where NetEase has been lagging, according to analysts.
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The surprise move highlights the fierce competition in China’s public cloud market, where state-backed telecommunications network operators are jostling with major tech companies to attract clients. Providers had been striving to capitalise on a national push for AI to fuel growth, said Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at consultancy Counterpoint.