Oracle is set to invest $5 billion (£3.85 billion) to ramp up support for the UK’s cloud infrastructure capabilities, the firm has revealed.
In an announcement confirming the move, the tech giant said the funding will be distributed over the next five years and go towards expanding the footprint of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) in the country.
It will also help support the UK’s plans to adopt and innovate with AI, Oracle said, enabling more organizations in the region to leverage Oracle’s AI and cloud computing services.
This includes sovereign AI capabilities, as well as multi-cloud capabilities and generative AI tools.
Oracle said it's committed to increasing the presence of OCI in both public and private sector organizations in the UK, including in industries like healthcare, financial services, defense, retail, and manufacturing.
Through this investment, UK organizations will be able to access Oracle’s various cloud regions as well as take advantage of the latest innovations in AI, such as AI agents.
Peter Kyle, secretary of state for science, innovation, and technology, commented on the investment, calling it a testament to the country’s growing strength in the AI sector.
“This $5 billion investment will accelerate our AI ambitions, providing businesses and public services with cutting-edge cloud infrastructure to drive productivity, enhance security, and unlock new opportunities for growth – driving forward our Plan for Change,” Kyle said.
“By working with global tech leaders like Oracle, we’re cementing the UK’s position at the forefront of the AI revolution, creating high-skilled jobs, fueling innovation, and securing our place as a world-leading tech powerhouse," he added.
Siobhan Wilson, SVP of Oracle UK, said the funding cements Oracle’s commitment to the UK’s technology ambitions.
“Our cloud investment will help ensure that customers can use AI to achieve new levels of productivity, unlock growth, and benefit from superior performance and security, all with improved cost savings,” Wilson said.
Oracle continues regional focus
Oracle has announced similar investments into other regions over the last year or so, signaling the firm's interest in regional cloud infrastructure.
RELATED WHITEPAPER
In June 2024, for example, Oracle committed $1 billion to Spain as part of a bid to support the region's industries through improved cloud infrastructure.
The firm has also been vocal on sovereign cloud offerings, having unveiled its plans for a European region in 2023.
Oracle CTO and chairman Larry Ellison more recently said that he expects every region to have its own dedicated sovereign cloud region in the coming years.
MORE FROM ITPRO
- ‘Many of our long-time rivals are now our partners’: Why Oracle is doubling down on multi-cloud
- Partnerships are Oracle's key to success in the "multi-cloud era"
- IBM eyes Oracle expertise gains with latest acquisition
-
What is polymorphic malware?Explainer Polymorphic malware constantly changes its code to avoid detection, making it a top cybersecurity threat that demands advanced, behavior-based defenses
-
Outgoing Kaseya CEO teases "this is just the beginning" for the companyOpinion We spoke to Fred Voccola who remains a key figurehead at the firm as it enters its next chapter...
-
Stargate project: OpenAI, Oracle pledge support for $500 billion AI infrastructure driveNews US President Donald Trump has unveiled the launch of the $500 billion Stargate Project to expand US AI infrastructure in collaboration with OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank.
-
Meta wants to join the big tech nuclear clubNews Meta has become the latest big tech company to explore the use of nuclear energy to power data centers.
-
Data centers will be critical to UK economic growth in the coming decade – but researchers have warned of a ‘data doomsday’ unless energy infrastructure is improvedNews With TechUK calling for improved grid connections and easier access to renewable energy, a new study warns that the world's entire electricity supply may not be enough
-
Europe needs more energy and better grids to meet data center power demands in the age of AINews Data center energy demands in Europe are set to triple by the end of the decade, and that means countries will need to boost investment in sustainable power sources and upgrade grid infrastructure.
-
Microsoft’s Three Mile Island deal is a big step toward matching data center energy demands, but it's not alone — AWS, Oracle, and now Google are all hot for nuclear powerNews The Three Mile Island deal comes after concerns over Microsoft’s carbon emissions surge
-
Oracle wants to power a new gigawatt data center with three small nuclear reactors – and it’s not the only big hyperscaler eyeing nuclear to meet surging AI energy demandsNews The firm is pushing the size of its data centers to new heights according to Oracle’s Larry Ellison
-
Google and Oracle data centres hit by issues amidst hottest ever UK dayNews The tech giants were forced to remedy servers as cooling systems strained against 40C outside temperatures
-
Oracle to open G-Cloud certified UK datacentreNews New Thames Valley-based facility set to open in July.
