Changes to CSP Subscription Grace Period & New Extended Service Term.

Effective 1st April, 2026, Microsoft will discontinue the free grace period for accessing services after a CSP subscription expires. This change affects all Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) customers—including those under MCA-E agreements and Buy-Online purchases.

 

What Happens After Subscription Expiration?

Partners and customers will have three options:

  • Renew to a new term.
  • Cancel at the end of the term (services end immediately).
  • Move to an Extended Service Term (EST).

 

About the Extended Service Term (EST).

The Extended Service Term offers a seamless way to maintain access to services while deciding next steps:

  • Priced at the standard monthly rate with a 3% uplift.
  • Cancel anytime—billing is prorated.
  • Designed to align ongoing usage with service costs, ensuring continuity without disruption.

 

Automatic Transition to EST.

Starting 1st April, 2026, subscriptions will automatically move into EST if they meet all of the following:

  • Purchased on or after 1st April, 2025.
  • Expire on or after 1st April, 2026.
  • Auto-renew is set to off.

 

What Customers Need to Do.

  • Review your renewal settings and discuss options with your Bechtle Account Manager ahead of your subscription end date.

New Microsoft 365 Copilot offerings for education.

Microsoft have revealed that there will be a discounted version for education. Just like the commercial offering, it will include natural language chat, integration with the Microsoft 365 Apps, reasoning across work data, and access to custom and pre-built Agents grounded in your chosen data and files. It will be released December 2025 at $18 per user per month, compared to the commercial pricing of $30 per user per month.

New AI experiences and academic offering for Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft Education Blog

Reminder of Global Changes to Microsoft 365 and Teams as of 1st November.

“As a reminder, Microsoft recently finalised an agreement with the European Commission (“Commitments”) regarding the inclusion of Teams in Microsoft 365 productivity suites in which Microsoft will expand interoperability and data portability resources, and make additional changes to licensing, pricing, and discounting practices for Microsoft 365, Office 365, and Microsoft Teams.

These changes are designed to enhance flexibility, support open ecosystems, and give customers more options to meet their unique needs.

Effective 1st November, 2025, the changes include the reintroduction of the Microsoft 365 and Office 365 Enterprise suites with Teams globally, alongside the “no Teams” suites, and updated prices for Microsoft 365 and Office 365 enterprise, business, and frontline suites without Teams, and the Microsoft Teams Enterprise/EEA standalone globally. These changes are reflective from 1st November however, partners can choose how to reflect these changes to their customers.” - Microsoft.

 

Microsoft 365 E5 promotion extended.

The Microsoft 365 E5 15% off promotion was launched 1st January 2025.

Microsoft have decided to extend this promotion through 31st December 2025, to provide a powerful, best-in-class cloud productivity solution with advanced security and compliance capabilities.

 

Microsoft 365 Copilot Promos.

Microsoft Announces Two New CSP Promotions for Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Microsoft 365 Copilot – Getting Started CSP Promotion (15% off).

Who it’s for: New-to-Copilot organisations starting with a team or department before scaling.

Offer details:

  • Discount: 15%.
  • Minimum license: 10–2,400 new Copilot licenses.
  • Term: 12 months.
  • Flexible additions: Add licenses anytime during the subscription term, up to 2,400 total.
  • Billing: Annual commitment; annual or monthly billing (+5% price uplift for monthly).
  • Availability: Worldwide, 1st October, 2025 through 31st December, 2025.
  • Customer eligibility: New to SKU Microsoft 365 Copilot customers transacting via CSP. Ineligible if the tenant has any existing paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license, regardless of purchase channel (EA, eCommerce, CSP, etc.).

 

Microsoft 365 Copilot – ScaleUp CSP Offer (20% off).

Who it’s for: A targeted, named set of SME&C CSP customers ready to scale AI adoption across the business.

Offer details:

  • Discount: 20% off.
  • Minimum license: 100+ Copilot licenses.
  • Term: 12 months.
  • Flexible additions: Add licenses anytime during the subscription term.
  • Billing: Annual commitment; annual or monthly billing (+5% price uplift for monthly).
  • Availability: Worldwide, 1st October 2025 through 31st December 2025.
  • Customer eligibility: Select new and existing SME&C customers transacting in CSP.

Other customer eligibility criteria (ScaleUp):

  • At least 300 base licenses of O365/M365.
  • No upcoming Copilot renewals of 50+ licenses through Q3.