Today, Dimension Data and its parent NTT shed some more light on plans to launch data centres in SA.
This after ITWeb last week broke the news that the systems integrator was looking to “imminently” launch the data centre facilities.
The exclusive story followed a video interview with Dimension Data founder and executive chairman Jeremy Ord and CEO Grant Bodley.
In a statement this morning, NTT, a technology services provider, and Dimension Data, the South African systems integrator and managed services provider which represents the NTT business in the Middle East and Africa, announced to the media that construction works for their Johannesburg 1 Data Centre has commenced.
According to the companies, the data centre design is based on tier three standards and will be constructed in two phases.
When fully built, it will deliver a total of 6 000sqm of IT space and 12MW of IT load. The first phase of the site is scheduled to become operational at the beginning of 2022, the companies say.
Dimension Data already operates 11 data centres with up to 10MW of IT load across Africa. Together with the new Johannesburg 1 Data Centre, the NTT data centre platform in Africa will provide more than 20MW of IT load capacity.
The companies explain that this demand for capacity is driven by local and international clients’ strong need for robust co-location infrastructure across Africa, and will enable Dimension Data to meet the increasing requirements of its clients across the continent and Middle East.
The expansion in Johannesburg is part of the growth strategy of the Global Data Centres division of NTT, which operates one of the largest data centre platforms in the world, the companies say, adding that with over 160 data centres spanning more than 20 countries and regions, NTT Group’s clients and partners have access to a powerful digital ecosystem with global reach and local expertise.
“The Johannesburg 1 Data Centre will enable us to increase our capabilities and global capacity, to meet our international clients’ expanding needs for infrastructure across the African market,” says Florian Winkler, CEO of the Global Data Centres EMEA division of NTT.
Dimension Data has built extensive intelligent infrastructure capability, which includes data centres, hybrid connectivity solutions and cloud, which enables clients to operate sustainable, intelligent businesses, and importantly, is contributing to economic growth and social development across the region, the statement notes.
Bodley says: “Africa’s digital transformation will be accelerated with the right infrastructure investments. This partnership, bolstering our already significant data centre footprint, comes at a time when demand for digital content, cloud services, new technologies such as Internet of things, mobile money and content delivery networks are on the rise.”
According to Dimension Data, the Johannesburg 1 Data Centre will be located in the “Central Point Innovation District” in Johannesburg.
It points out that the site is in close proximity to the airport and city centre, and will offer diverse fibre connectivity, fully redundant power supply and cooling infrastructure.
“It will be a state-of-the-art, highly secure, energy-efficient data centre offering maximum protection for our clients’ critical and sensitive IT systems. The site includes plans to host an NTT Technology Experience Lab for clients and partners to test and validate cutting-edge technology solutions and IT deployments in a live data centre environment,” it concludes.
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