Play to challenge Google and Microsoft? CEO announces new services

• - Changing transatlantic relations may be an opportunity for European telecommunications companies - says Ken Campbell, CEO of Play Group.
• The company announced a partnership with Scaleway, a European cloud provider, to develop local cloud solutions.
• In an interview with WNP, the CEO of Play Group admitted that he wants to compete with large American companies where the value for the customer is data sovereignty.

According to the president of the Play Group, one of the most important changes that have recently affected the telecommunications industry is the recognition of this sector as strategic.

- The importance of the connectivity we provide has long been taken for granted, but today it is clear that we are at the forefront of many key topics - from business support, through the use of artificial intelligence, to cybersecurity and protecting network integrity - said Ken Campbell in an interview with WNP.

Stability in the energy sector is key to development

He noted that energy will play an increasingly important role for the future of the entire sector - the priority in the near future will be to ensure the stability of the national energy infrastructure . And also, as he emphasized - simple regulations.

- Supporting investments through sensible regulatory policy is one of the key trends that we see not only in Poland but also throughout Europe - said Campbell.

In Europe, there is a tendency to locally adapt EU directives, i.e. to add a national "flavor" to European regulations. I am not a supporter of such an approach. I do not see the point in building up regulations and complicating the system - he added.

The CEO of the Play Group noted that the company invests around PLN 1.5 billion annually in infrastructure development. - We are a large employer and a significant taxpayer. Overly restrictive regulations may weaken these investments. I hope that the government will remember this when planning new regulations - he admitted.

A new direction - competition in the cloud services sector

He also revealed that Play plans to offer cloud services to its customers . During the European Economic Congress, the company announced cooperation with Scaleway. Like Play, it belongs to the Iliad group.

- Cooperation with Scaleway enables us to offer cloud solutions - public and private - which translates into greater data sovereignty - noted Ken Campbell.

As the president of the Play Group emphasized, developing local solutions will become increasingly important in Europe. Especially in the face of changes in transatlantic relations.

- I am Canadian and 100 days ago I woke up convinced that we would be the 51st state of the USA - we are not. The world has changed and we need to redefine our approach - he argued, referring to the words of Donald Trump, who at the beginning of his term announced the annexation of Canada . The occupation of the territory did not take place, but the declarations of the US president undermined trust in relations between the countries.

Campbell declared that Play wants to be a competitor to the largest American cloud companies such as Google and Microsoft.

- I believe that Europe should build its own ecosystem and Play has a huge role to play in this - he argued, adding that he sees a growing number of customers who are particularly sensitive to data sovereignty issues. - It is for them that we want to create an answer - he emphasized.