Cloud regions refer to the geographical location of data centres, allowing customers near that region to get faster access to their data.

Cloud computing companies such as Oracle, Microsoft , Amazon and Google have been building new data centers across Europe to cater to clients shifting from in-house digital storage and computing to leased cloud servers.

Some of this is a requirement as Europe is not so keen on having data shifted offshore where it might be snaffled by US spooks.

Oracle already has cloud regions in Germany, the Netherlands, France, the UK and Switzerland in Europe. Including the two new regions, it will have facilities in 36 regions worldwide, with plans to add eight more by the end of next year.

The company has already signed contracts with potential customers in Europe and is planning to open a second region in France.

Earlier this year, Oracle said it will migrate the most complicated computer programmes of companies to its cloud for free, in a bid to catch a new wave of potential cloud-computing clients.