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Invitation to comment

14 May 2026: To assist with its initial SMS investigation, the CMA has published an invitation to comment (ITC) setting out the scope of our investigation, the main avenues of investigation and the potential issues and interventions we are currently considering.

We invite submissions from interested parties on the areas set out in the ITC. We will publish non-confidential responses in due course. If your response contains information that you consider to be confidential, please also submit a non-confidential version of your response for publication.

• (14.5.26)

Case information

14 May 2026: The CMA has launched an initial SMS investigation under Part 1 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024.

The CMA is investigating whether to designate Microsoft as having strategic market status (SMS) in respect of its business software ecosystem.

Launch of SMS investigation

•  (14.5.26)
• Press release: CMA launches strategic market status investigation into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem (14.5.26)

Indicative timetable

The table below sets out an indicative timetable for the SMS investigation.

The dates set out below are indicative only and represent our current expectations and estimates for different phases in the investigation and may be subject to change.

This timetable will be updated as necessary throughout the investigation if there are changes to these timings.

Stage 1: Commencement of the SMS investigationÌý

Timing	Milestone	Engagement
14ÌýMay 2026	SMS investigation launch	Ìý
14ÌýMay 2026	SMS investigation notice sent toÌýMicrosoftÌýand published on CMA website	MicrosoftÌýinvited to attend introductory meetings with CMA investigation team
14 May 2026	Invitation to comment published	MicrosoftÌýand third partiesÌýcanÌýrespond
By end May 2026	Customer research commences	Ìý
MayÌýtoÌýJulyÌý2026	Initial evidence gathering and engagement with Microsoft and third parties including other market participants and UK customers. The CMA will send information notices and engage with stakeholders through calls, meetings and other approaches	Microsoft and other key market participants [footnote 1] respond to CMA information notices. Bilateral meetings and other discussion forums with stakeholders
4ÌýJuneÌý2026	Invitation to comment closes	Ìý
By end June 2026	Publication of non-confidential responses to invitation to comment	Ìý

Stage 2: Preparation and publication of proposed decision on whether toÌýdesignateÌýMicrosoftÌýwith SMSÌý

Timing	Milestone	Engagement
JulyÌýtoÌýSeptemberÌý2026	Further evidence gathering and analysis	This may include Microsoft and other key market participants responding to further CMA information notices, including bilateral meetings
September to OctoberÌý2026	Preparation of proposed decision including ‘put back’ process with Microsoft and other parties on potentially confidential material	The CMA will share ‘put back’ extracts with Microsoft and third parties for comment
OctoberÌý2026	Publication of proposed decision for consultation[footnote 2]	MicrosoftÌýand third parties respond to consultation
NovemberÌý2026	Consultation on proposed decision on SMS designation closes	Ìý

Stage 3: After consultation on proposed decisionÌýÌý

Timing	Milestone	Engagement
November 2026	Publication of non-confidential responses to proposed decision consultation	Ìý
November 2026	Opportunity forÌýMicrosoftÌýto make oral representations on proposed decisions on SMS designation	MicrosoftÌýmay provide oral representations on the proposed decision to decision makers
November to December 2026	Further evidence gathering and engagement withÌýMicrosoftÌýand other parties, as necessary	The CMA may issue further information notices or arrange furtherÌýbilateralÌýmeetings
January 2027	Preparation of final decision report including ‘put back’ process with Microsoft and other parties on potentially confidential material	The CMA may share furtherÌý‘put back’Ìýextracts withÌýMicrosoftÌýand third parties for comment
February 2027	Publication of final decision report and any SMS decision notice	Ìý
13 February 2027	Statutory deadline for issue of SMS decision notice	Ìý

Decision makersÌý

The Digital Markets Board Committee (DMBC) oversees and takes certain delegated decisions under the DMCC Act 2024.Ìý

Sub-committees of the DMBC have beenÌýestablishedÌýunder the DMBC to oversee and take certain decisions in specific SMS investigations,Ìýin accordance withÌýtheir  terms of reference.Ìý

The members for this investigation areÌýas follows:Ìý

• Sarah Cardell, Chief ExecutiveÌýOfficer, CMAÌý

• Will Hayter, Executive Director for Digital Markets, CMAÌý

• Katie Kapernaros, Non-Executive Director, CMAÌý

• Colleen Keck, Panel Member, CMAÌý

• Cyrus Mehta, Non-Executive Director, CMA

Contact

Please direct all correspondence or questions in relation to this investigation to: business.software.sms@cma.gov.uk.

Privacy notice

Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its digital markets work under Part 1 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please read our privacy notice.