Alibaba Group's cloud computing subsidiary Aliyun plans to open four overseas data centers in Japan, Europe, Australia and the Middle East by year's end to speed up the global deployment of its cloud computing infrastructure.

It will also help more than 50 leading global software companies launch businesses in the Chinese market next year and introduce advanced information technologies and services into China.

The first batch of partners includes 11 international software providers, such as software company SAP SE, SUSE Linux GmbH and data management and storage company Hitachi Data Systems.

"The total number of overseas users of Aliyun increased by 700 percent last year," says Yu Sicheng, Aliyun's vice-president, who spoke at a computing conference in Beijing on Aug 9.

Yu says its major services cover artificial intelligence, security and enterprise-class internet architecture. The company has data centers in Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States.

The company has established a strategic cooperative partnership with smartphone maker HTC Corp, to provide technical support and cloud services for HTC's VR devices brand HTC Vive.

"It is an important integration for the virtual reality and cloud computing industry. Aliyun, which has an advantage in cloud computing and developers' resources, could help HTC Vive to launch in China better and provide more fluent and abundant content for VR consumers," says Alvin Wang Graylin, who is in charge of HTC's VR business in China.

Moreover, Aliyun will work with IT service provider Digital China Holdings Ltd and global audit and advisory firm Deloitte to promote the development of cloud business.

Charlie Dai, principal analyst at Forrester Research Inc, tells China Daily: "The cloud market is growing rapidly both in China and abroad. The competition among cloud players is switching from the infrastructure layer to the whole platform and value ecosystem.

"Aliyun's expansion of its data center footprint is critical for its globalization, not only to enable its global initiatives, but also to drive digital transformation in the local market of each region."

The worldwide cloud services market is projected to grow 16.5 percent in 2016 to $204 billion, up from $175 billion last year, according to consultancy Gartner Inc.

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