Press Releases
2023/10/27
BBIX and NTT SmartConnect Sign Business Partnership Agreement in Data Center Connectivity Field
October 27, 2023
BBIX, Inc.
BBSakura Networks, Inc.
NTT SmartConnect CORPORATION
BBIX and NTT SmartConnect Sign Business Partnership Agreement in Data Center Connectivity Field
～New OCX connection point opens in NTT SmartConnect’s “Sonezaki Data Center”～
BBIX, Inc. (“BBIX”), a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp. that operates an Internet Exchange (“IX”) business, has entered into a business partnership agreement with NTT SmartConnect CORPORATION (“NTT SmartConnect”) in the data center connectivity field. With this partnership arrangement, BBIX will add its Open Connectivity eXchange (“OCX”), a cloud-based network service, connection point to NTT SmartConnect’s “Sonezaki Data Center” on December 1, 2023.
OCX is a cloud-based network service provided by BBIX and BBSakura Networks, Inc. (“BBSakura”), a network solutions provider and subsidiary of BBIX. OCX provides on-demand, highly secure, low-latency, scalable connectivity services to a variety of cloud services and data centers used by customers.
NTT SmartConnect, as one of the largest IX points in western Japan, plays a hub role in Internet access in the Kansai area. Each data center is connected by its own fiber optic and connections to external services with the same degree of ease as in-house fiber connections through highly reliable tunnels. The “Sonezaki Data Center,” at which BBIX will establish its new OCX connecting point, is one of the largest network data centers, and is conveniently located within walking distance from the nearest train station for easy access from outside Osaka Prefecture, and is robust enough to withstand a magnitude 7 earthquake.
By combining BBIX and BBSakura’s secure, high-quality cloud-based network service, OCX, with NTT SmartConnect’s network, BBIX and BBSakura will enhance the connectivity of data centers in the East and West Japan and support their customers’ business development in the telecommunications network field.
BBIX and BBSakura, together with NTT SmartConnect, will work to expand their services to help customers accelerate DX (Digital Transformation) and grow their existing businesses, thereby contributing to the realization of a prosperous society where people can experience the joy of being connected.
■Partnership Image
■Executive Comments
Michikazu Fukuchi, Executive Vice President, Board Director and COO, BBIX, Inc.
“We are very pleased to work with NTT SmartConnect to provide BBIX’s OCX through our collaboration in the data center interconnection field. The partnership with NTT SmartConnect will enhance OCX’s network and increase the diversity of data center service offerings and enable us to provide better services to customers. Through OCX, we will continue to accelerate interconnection and promote DX for local customers.”
Hideyuki Sasaki, President and CEO, BBSakura Networks, Inc.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer OCX at the ‘Sonezaki Data Center.’ Our collaboration will improve the convenience of connecting to OCX’s connecting sites and enable customers to use high-quality, highly secure services. Together with NTT SmartConnect, we will utilize OCX to accelerate the trend of interconnection and digitalization in the region.”
Takafumi Makiuchi, President, NTT SmartConnect CORPORATION
“We are sincerely pleased with the collaboration between NTT SmartConnect and BBIX in the data center field. Through this collaboration with both companies, as a Value Platform Partner, we will be closer to more customers than ever before, accelerate alliances and DX with companies nationwide, and contribute to the creation of new businesses.”
■ About BBIX
Company Name: BBIX, Inc.
URL: https://www.bbix.net/en/
Headquarters: 1-9-10 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Hidetoshi Ikeda, President & CEO
Date of establishment: June 13, 2003
Capital: 100 million yen
Ownership: 100% owned by SoftBank Corp.
Business: Telecommunications operator under Japan’s Telecommunications Business Act; leasing, maintenance & management of telecommunications equipment; development, sales, maintenance & management of computer hardware/software
■ About BBSakura
Company Name: BBSakura Networks, Inc.
URL: https://www.bbsakura.net/en/
Headquarters: 7-20-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Hideyuki Sasaki, President & CEO
Date of establishment: August 1, 2019
Capital: 200 million yen
Ownership: BBIX, Inc. 51%, SAKURA internet Inc. 49%
Business: Telecommunications operator under Japan’s Telecommunications Business Act; leasing, maintenance & management of telecommunications equipment; development, sales, maintenance & management of computer hardware/software
■ About NTT SmartConnect
Company Name: NTT SmartConnect CORPORATIONURL: https://www.nttsmc.com/
Headquarters: 3-1, Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku,Osaka-shi, Osaka
Representative: Takafumi Makiuchi, President
Date of establishment: March 1, 2000
Capital: 100 million yen
Ownership: 100% owned by NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE WEST CORPORATION
Business: Based on its own data centers with robust facilities and high-speed connectivity, the company offers four core businesses: “housing” to store customers’ servers, “cloud” to provide a wide range of services from infrastructure services to SaaS-type services, “streaming” to realize highly reliable content delivery, and “data analysis and utilization” that utilizes AI log analysis
● The company names and service names described in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective companies.
● The content, products, specifications, contact information and other information contained in this press release are as of the date of announcement. This information is subject to change without notice.
BBIX, Inc.
