US giant Cisco Systems has announced plans to build a global InterCloud - the world's largest network of clouds - in collaboration with a set of partners.

The company expects to invest more than US$1 billion (Bt32.1 billion) to build its expanded cloud business over the next two years.

The Cisco global InterCloud is being architectured for the "Internet of Everything", with a distributed network and security architecture designed for high-value application workloads, real-time analytics, "near infinite" scalability and full compliance with local data-sovereignty laws.

The first-of-its-kind open InterCloud, which will feature application programming interfaces for rapid app development, will deliver a new enterprise-class portfolio of cloud IT services for businesses, service providers and resellers.

The company plans to deliver Cisco Cloud Services with and through its partners. Organisations that are planning to deliver Cisco Cloud Services or have endorsed the global Intercloud initiative include Telstra, Allstream, Canopy, Atos, Ingram Micro, Logicalis Group, MicroStrategy, OnX Managed Services, SunGard Availability Services, and Wipro.

Its partner-centric business model, which enables partner capabilities and investments, is expected to generate a rapid acceleration of additional investment to drive the global scale and breadth of services that Cisco plans to deliver to its customers.

Hosted across a global network of Cisco and partner data centres, the Cisco global InterCloud will offer an expanded suite of value-added application and network-centric cloud services to accelerate the Internet of Everything.

The providers of IT services see two major challenges facing their customers as businesses opportunities: how to monetise services and differentiate themselves in a crowded market.