Microsoft announces retirement of Power BI Premium per capacity: Transitions to Microsoft Fabric SKU
In a recent update, Microsoft has announced the retirement of Power BI Premium per capacity, transitioning to Microsoft Fabric SKU. This change, effective January 1, 2025, is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to integrate its various data services into a unified platform, Microsoft Fabric.
Key dates and transition plan
- July 1, 2024: New sales of Power BI Premium per capacity will cease
- January 1, 2025: Renewals of Power BI Premium per capacity will no longer be available. Users will need to transition to Microsoft Fabric SKU manually.
Existing customers can continue using their Power BI Premium capacity until their next renewal date. After January 1, 2025, transitioning to Microsoft Fabric SKU will be necessary to maintain access to premium capabilities.
What is Microsoft Fabric?
Launched last year, Microsoft Fabric is a comprehensive software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that combines the capabilities of Microsoft Power BI, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Azure Data Factory. This unified platform aims to provide a seamless experience for data analytics, integration, and transformation, making it easier for businesses to manage and analyze their data. It encompasses all the features of Power BI Premium, along with six additional core workloads, providing a more comprehensive solution for data analytics and business intelligence.
With Microsoft Fabric capacity, users have access to:
- Eligibility for Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC): Fabric capacity spending can be applied against MACC commitments, providing financial flexibility.
- Dynamic scalability: The pay-as-you-go model allows customers to scale their capacity up or down and pause as needed.
- Azure-only features: Fabric capacity users will benefit from exclusive features such as trusted workspace access for OneLake shortcuts and Managed Private Endpoints for Spark.
Transition details
Existing Power BI Premium per capacity customers should collaborate with their Microsoft account representatives to smoothly transition to Fabric capacity. The transition process involves reassigning workspaces to the new Fabric capacity, which can be done in bulk to expedite the migration. Users will have a 90-day period post their subscription end date to migrate their workspaces without losing access.
For customers with Enterprise Agreements (EA), renewals of Power BI Premium per capacity can continue until the end of their EA agreement. However, after January 1, 2025, these customers must transition to Fabric capacity at the end of their agreement to continue using the platform.
Impact on other Power BI licensing
The retirement of Power BI Premium per capacity does not affect Power BI Pro or Power BI Premium per user (PPU). Additionally, Microsoft Fabric capacity is compatible with Power BI Embedded, allowing users to continue their embedded activities seamlessly.
However, Microsoft Fabric capacity is not compatible with Power BI Report Server. Customers requiring access to Power BI Report Server can obtain it through SQL Server Enterprise Edition with Software Assurance.
Next steps
The transition from Power BI Premium per capacity to Microsoft Fabric SKU represents a strategic move by Microsoft to enhance and consolidate its data analytics offerings. Customers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new capabilities and benefits of Microsoft Fabric and to plan their transition in collaboration with their Microsoft account representatives.
For assistance in navigating these changes, consider consulting with a certified Microsoft Power Platform partner, who can provide expert guidance and support for Power BI.
