whether Broadcom’s post-deal shift in pricing and contract structure makes it harder for rivals to compete, or leaves businesses with fewer viable alternatives once they’re locked into VMware-based systems. Broadcom told MT Newswires that this kind of information-gathering is typical after a complaint and said it’s engaged with the Commission, but the answers from providers will shape whether the review stays informal or escalates into a formal antitrust case.
Why should I care?
For markets: EU questionnaires can limit Broadcom’s room to rewrite VMware terms.
If regulators think the new VMware licensing model harms competition, they can push for “behavioral remedies” – practical limits on contract terms – or open a full proceeding that can bring fines. Either way, that risk can cap how quickly Broadcom can roll out higher prices or stricter bundles, which matters for how much profit it can extract from VMware. There’s also a timing effect: when terms might change…
