New NTT Global Data Centers facilities in Chicago and Oregon solidify infrastructure footprint and position the vendor for continued growth

As part of parent company NTT’s July 2019 restructuring effort, a separate company called NTT Ltd. was formed, which unified 31 global brands to create a 40,000-person, $11 billion company dedicated to offering IT, cloud and colocation services to large enterprises. At the center of NTT Ltd.’s strategy is NTT Global Data Centers, a separate division that offers a portfolio of global data center assets including RagingWire (Americas), NTT Communications (APAC), e-shelter and Gyron (EMEA), and Netmagic (India). With over 160 facilities, NTT Global Data Centers is now the third largest global data center provider.

Americas expansion to support NTT Ltd.’s growth in 2021

On Feb. 25, NTT Global Data Centers held a virtual event to unveil its two new data centers, in Hillsboro, Ore. (HI1), and Chicago (CH1). Both CH1 and HI1 are currently 36 megawatts (MW) but are expected to expand to 76MW and 126MW, respectively, to support increasingly complex IT workloads for both hyperscale and enterprise customers. NTT’s roots in telecommunications allow it to provide a broad portfolio of carrier-neutral connectivity options within each data center. Meanwhile the company’s IT services arm is also strong with offerings such as Remote Hands, which removes the need for on-site service and maintenance and has been in high demand during COVID-19.

The establishment of HI1 and CH1 marks the beginning of NTT Global Data Centers’ Americas expansion efforts for 2021. The company plans to open a campus in Silicon Valley, break ground in Phoenix, and expand its campus in Ashburn, Va., while the attach of various connectivity products and managed services will continue to support growth throughout the year. In a company press release, Doug Adams, CEO of NTT Global Data Centers Americas, highlighted the openings in the context of plans for the year, which he stated “will be a year like no other for our division, and opening these two new data centers is just the beginning [of] efforts that underline our commitment to put our clients at the center and bring data center services to key data center markets across the Americas.”

New data centers are strategically placed to address varied client needs

As the colocation market in the U.S. becomes increasingly crowded, NTT Global Data Centers expands in strategic markets to support its retail and wholesale colocation strategies and address the needs of clients regardless of size. This includes pursuing markets with access to affordable sources, low risk of natural disaster and the ability to support connections to emerging markets, among other factors.

NTT Global Data Centers supports 100% renewable energy

As technology sustainability remains a top-of-mind concern for CTOs, NTT Global Data Centers continues to operate on a message of clean energy and efficiency. Specifically, the new HI1 facility is an appealing option for customers looking to consume renewable energy options, while the new campus has earned a Level 3 certification from the Cleaner Air Oregon program, setting NTT Global Data Centers apart from competitors as it is the only data center in the region to receive the certification to date.

Local cost-saving opportunities support lower TCO for customers

One of the key attractions of NTT Global Data Centers’ CH1 facility is access to state and local tax incentives on equipment. Additionally, CH1 is powered by local energy company Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), which offers electricity at rates ComEd states are 18% lower rates than the national average. These initiatives are designed to support lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for customers through cheaper electricity, sales tax exemptions and lower cooling requirements.

Subsea cabling

NTT Global Data Centers has targeted the Pacific Northwest with HI1 due to accessibility to subsea cables that can connect across regions. With HI1, locally housed customers have an opportunity to access strategic markets in Japan as NTT Communications acquired Pacific Crossing for its subsea cable in 2009, supporting data communication between the U.S. and Japan. This connection with HI1 allows customers to contract with NTT Global Data Centers on a single cable and eliminates the need for multiple contracts, underscoring NTT Global Data Centers’ approach of leveraging parent company NTT to support clients. TBR believes NTT Communications’ strong foothold in Japan will boost NTT Global Data Centers’ ability to provide customers with low-latency connections between two emerging markets, serving as a growth driver and offering differentiation from other colocation peers.