NTT Data South Africa is shifting its business model away from owning data‑centre facilities toward a service‑focused approach that emphasizes managed infrastructure, cloud integration and artificial‑intelligence support.
Asset‑light strategy takes shape after data‑centre sale
In February, the Japanese‑based IT services firm completed a sale‑and‑leaseback deal that transferred ownership of seven South African data‑centres to Open Access Data Centres (OADC). The sites, located in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, East London, Bryanston, Parklands, Gqeberha and Umhlanga, will now be leased back to NTT Data SA, which will retain primary responsibility for client services.
Managing executive Amantha Naidoo told ITWeb TV that the transaction reflects a broader move to an asset‑light operating model. “We don’t necessarily need to own and operate the facilities ourselves to deliver those services,” she said, adding that the company will continue to provide co‑location, hosting and managed‑infrastructure solutions from the leased space.
She stressed that customers should notice no disruption. “We still manage the services. We still manage the co‑location on behalf of our clients, having leased back the data‑centre space,” she explained, noting that the company’s role and the services received remain unchanged.
Integrating cloud, connectivity and AI for clients
The revised strategy aims to combine data‑centre capacity, cloud platforms, connectivity and managed services into a single offering. Naidoo said this integrated approach helps organisations modernise their IT environments and prepare for AI workloads. “If we only provide one component of the technology stack, we become a transactional service provider,” she added. “By bringing together data centres, cloud, connectivity and managed infrastructure, we’re able to become a strategic partner that can sign up for value‑based engagements.”
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Globally, NTT Data continues to own and develop data‑centre assets, including the Johannesburg 1 hyperscale facility. The South African arm leases capacity from that global business as it does from OADC, allowing it to leverage world‑class infrastructure without expanding its own physical footprint.
In practice, this means clients can access high‑performance hosting and AI‑ready environments without dealing directly with the underlying hardware owners. The company’s commercial flexibility improves, and it can build redundancy into its services without the constraints of facility ownership.
From a practical standpoint, the shift could make it easier for South African firms to adopt AI tools while keeping costs predictable. By focusing on outcomes rather than hardware, NTT Data SA positions itself as a partner that helps clients decide whether workloads belong in public cloud, private cloud or on‑premises environments.
Talent development and the human side of AI
Quality data remains a prerequisite for successful AI projects. “If you don’t have quality data, AI simply won’t produce meaningful outcomes,” she noted, emphasizing the need for trusted data, good governance and responsible AI practices.
While the company’s global data‑centre business is still evaluating growth opportunities across the Middle East and Africa, the immediate focus remains on delivering services that help South African customers manage the evolving AI environment. The asset‑light model, combined with a strong emphasis on talent and data quality, reflects a strategic bet that service excellence will drive future growth.
