Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is Oracle Corporation’s cloud computing platform, which provides a range of cloud services to businesses and organizations. OCI was launched as a part of Oracle’s efforts to compete in the rapidly growing cloud computing market. Here’s a brief history of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure:

1. Initial Launch (2016): Oracle Cloud Infrastructure was officially launched in September 2016. Initially, it offered a set of core cloud services, including compute, storage, and networking, to compete with established cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
2. Global Expansion (2017-2018): In subsequent years, Oracle expanded its data center regions globally to compete on a broader scale. These data center regions included locations in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
3. Integration of Cloud Services (2018-2019): Oracle continued to enhance its cloud offerings by integrating services such as databases, analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) into OCI. These integrations aimed to provide a more comprehensive cloud platform.
4. Oracle Autonomous Database (2019): One of the significant milestones for OCI was the introduction of the Oracle Autonomous Database in 2019. This self-driving, self-securing, and self-repairing database service was a key differentiator and a major focus for Oracle.
5. Partnerships and Acquisitions: Oracle also formed partnerships and made acquisitions to strengthen its cloud portfolio. Notable acquisitions included the purchase of cloud infrastructure provider Ravello Systems in 2016 and the acquisition of cloud access security broker (CASB) company Zenedge in 2018.
6. Cloud Growth and Enterprise Adoption (2020-2021): Oracle continued to invest in its cloud infrastructure and services, targeting enterprise customers. It introduced enhancements in areas such as security, hybrid cloud solutions, and industry-specific cloud offerings.
7. Data Center Expansions (2020-2021): Oracle expanded its global data center presence with the opening of new regions in multiple countries. This expansion aimed to provide customers with improved performance, data sovereignty, and disaster recovery capabilities.
8. Oracle Cloud Free Tier: Oracle introduced a free tier of OCI in 2020, allowing users to experiment with cloud services at no cost, providing access to a variety of OCI resources.
9. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Gen 2: Oracle has branded its cloud platform as “Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Gen 2” to highlight its commitment to security, scalability, and performance improvements over the original generation.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure continues to evolve, with ongoing investments in technology, data centers, and services. Oracle aims to compete in the cloud market by offering cloud solutions that cater to the needs of enterprises, emphasizing performance, security, and integration with existing Oracle products and services.