Technology services provider NTT and systems integrator and managed services provider Dimension Data have broken ground on a project to expand their Johannesburg 1 Data Centre.

The data centre, designed to Tier 3 standards, will be constructed in two phases, with the first phase scheduled to become operational at the start of 2022.

When completed, the overall data centre will deliver a total of 6 000 m2 of information technology (IT) space and 12 MW of IT load.

The expansion forms part of NTT’s division Global Data Centers’ growth strategy.

Local and international clients’ strong need for robust colocation infrastructure across Africa is driving demand for capacity, says NTT Global Data Centers Europe, Middle East and Africa division CEO Florian Winkler.

“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.”

NTT operates one of the largest data centre platforms in the world, with more than 160 data centres across more than 20 countries and regions.

Dimension Data already operates 11 data centres with up to 10 MW of IT load across Africa and, including the new Johannesburg 1 Data Centre, the NTT data centre platform in Africa will provide more than 20 MW of IT load capacity.

“Africa’s digital transformation will be accelerated with the right infrastructure investments,” says Dimension Data CEO Grant Bodley.

“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.”

The highly secure and energy efficient Johannesburg 1 Data Centre, which will be located in the Central Point Innovation District in Johannesburg, will offer maximum protection for critical and sensitive IT systems, diverse fibre connectivity, fully redundant power supply and cooling infrastructure.