Back in November, we broke the news that Microsoft’s 2018 pricing was going to come into action on the 1st of January. Given the notification period given, the increase will only be implemented from the service period that commences on or after 1st February 2018.  If you pay annually or quarterly then it will be from your next invoice from that date.

The following was sent out (20th December 2017) for information – with more specific copies following for those with less generic licenses (such as SQL Server Data Centre Edition for example).

“This email affects you ONLY if you currently have Microsoft Windows Server Operating system. It may also affect you further if you also have Microsoft SQL Server or use RDS / Terminal server CALS other than the standard admin account on your server with Hosting UK.

Microsoft Raise SPLA Prices from January 2018

On January 1, 2018, Microsoft will introduce SPLA price changes for Windows Server, SQL Server, Core Infrastructure Server Suite and Remote Desktop Services. The details have been confirmed as follows:

Microsoft has released the January 2018 price lists and announced the price increases effective January 2018. Microsoft has also announced there will be increases in January 2019 on certain products, outlined below.

The price increases are very common in the Microsoft world, particularly around the SPLA. The prices on the SPLA program have been going up consistently each year since 2010. In the past, some of the Microsoft products have gone up as much as 40%. SPLA price increases are applied to all SPLA pricelists worldwide. And hence the entire service provider community (worldwide) is affected by this price increase.

In January 2015, 2016 and 2017 we absorbed the Microsoft price increases but as these Microsoft price rises now seem to be a regular occurrence and given that we had previously absorbed increases we are unable to continue to do so.

The following Microsoft software will be charged at the below new monthly retail prices from January 1st, 2018

Windows Server Standard and Web 2003, 2008, 2012 (Legacy Processor licences) – £ 33.00
Windows server 2016 Standard* – £ 33.00
Windows Server 2016 Datacentre* – £ 120.00
Microsoft RDS CAL – £ 6.00
Microsoft SQL Server Web – £ 25.00
Microsoft SQL Server Standard – £ 290.00
*starting with Windows 2016 the product is licenced per 2 processor cores at a minimum of 8 cores per licence.

Unlike last year when price changes were applied due to the currency changes, we have received no communication from Microsoft on why these price increases have been applied and so we can only speculate.

Therefore, this email serves as the required 30-day notice as per clause 6.5 and 6.6 of our standard terms and conditions for internet service and as per your contract that your licence price will increase from 30 days of the sending date of this email.“

Should you have any questions please contact billing@hostinguk.net and we will be happy to answer them.