The notion of $B$-convexity for operator spaces, which a priori depends on a set of parameters indexed by $\sSi$, is defined. Some of the classical characterizations of this geometric notion for Banach spaces are studied in this new context. For instance, an operator space is $B_{\sSi}$-convex if and only if it has $\sSi$-subtype. The class of uniformly non-$\mathcal{L}^1(\sSi)$ operator spaces, which is also the class of $B_{\sSi}$-convex operator spaces, is introduced. Moreover, an operator space having non-trivial $\sSi$-type is $B_{\sSi}$-convex. However, the converse is false. The row and column operator spaces are nice counterexamples of this fact, since both are Hilbertian. In particular, this result shows that a version of the Maurey–Pisier Theorem does not hold in our context. Some other examples of Hilbertian operator spaces will be considered. In the last part of this paper, the independence of $B_{\sSi}$-convexity with respect to $\sSi$ is studied. This provides some interesting problems, which will be posed.

AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 46L07. Secondary 42C15