Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT), one of South Africa’s leading property developers, is on track to complete the turnkey data centre development of NTT Johannesburg 1 Data Centre at Centralpoint Innovation District in Samrand, Johannesburg, in early 2022.
Described as the continent’s first truly interconnected marketplace, NTT Johannesburg 1 Data Centre is being developed by Growthpoint on behalf of NTT Ltd. Group, the world-leading global technology services provider, represented in Africa and the Middle East by Dimension Data, the South African systems integrator and managed services provider.
Growthpoint has established itself as one of South Africa’s leaders in developing signature buildings tailored to the exacting requirements of its clients, including data centres.
“Dimension Data has been meticulous in its stipulations for the high-quality NTT Johannesburg 1 Data Centre. Working with them is an excellent experience as we understand their world-class requirements and can help them achieve this in the localised context of South Africa. We are proud of this partnership, and to be part of building NTT’s global growth, capabilities and capacity in Africa with Dimension Data while responding to Africa’s growing digital economy,” says Estienne de Klerk, Growthpoint’s SA CEO.
The base-build of the multi-million-Rand NTT Johannesburg 1, which broke ground in September 2020, has already been completed. The building’s infrastructure is currently being tested while NTT continues with its fit-out and the property is given its finishing touches.
The centre will include 6,000sqm of IT space and feature high-end offices with an NTT Technology Experience Lab (TEL), all supported by specialised state-of-the-art security solutions.
Johannesburg 1 Data Centre is set to launch April 2022, which will see this extraordinary opportunity identified locally in South Africa by Dimension Data and Growthpoint as early as 2017 becoming a reality.
NTT operates one of the largest data centre platforms in the world, with over 160 data centres spanning more than 20 countries and regions. Designed to its leading international standards, the Johannesburg 1 is only 500m from the Kosmosdal electrical substation that provides it with a 20MVA connected power supply, and which has enabled an extremely cost-effective electrical infrastructure set-up, which also includes redundancy. The efficient and effective electrical infrastructure across the district development makes it the prime plug-and-play location for a mega data centre. There is potential to develop more facilities like this within Central Point Innovation District in future.
In addition to its exceptional electrical infrastructure, Centralpoint Innovation district also offers excellent carrier-neutral fibre infrastructure especially spec’d for mega data centres.
“We are experiencing an increase in demand for data centres in line with Africa’s exciting growth and today’s increasingly data-driven and connected world. Growthpoint’s development of NTT Johannesburg 1 Data Centre, and our strategic data-centre development land holdings in Cape Town and Johannesburg signal that we are well positioned as partners in building South Africa’s digital future,” says Leon Labuschagne, Growthpoint’s Head of Industrial Development.
South Africa leads the market for data centres in Africa’s digital transformation, and the Growthpoint-owned 42-hectare Centralpoint Innovation District enjoys a premium position in a high-demand hub for data centres and technology businesses in Midrand. It is one of several land-holdings identified by Growthpoint as superior data centre locations in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Security, power availability, diverse fibre connectivity, easy access of the highway and customized designs are key considerations for businesses in this market, and Centralpoint offers this all at an extremely high level. It also features beautiful, landscaped gardens in a well-maintained public precinct managed by a dedicated property owners association.
NTT Johannesburg 1 is Growthpoint’s sixth development in this vibrant, growing business community, which responds to the demand for quality, efficient, high-tech data centre, logistics and warehousing facilities in great locations.
Centralpoint is conveniently located in Midrand, just off the N1 Samrand off-ramp between Johannesburg and Pretoria with easy access to the east and west of Johannesburg and Pretoria. It enjoys superb highway access to the N1 North and South, and N14, easy connection to the R21 on route to OR Tambo via Olifantsfontein Road, and is well served by public transport.
Growthpoint creates space to thrive with innovative and sustainable property solutions in environmentally friendly buildings, while improving the social and material wellbeing of individuals and communities. It is an international property company invested in real estate and communities across Africa, Australia, the UK and Eastern Europe, and South Africa’s largest primary JSE-listed REIT. Growthpoint is 50% co-owner of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. It is an established leader in commercial green developments and owns and manages the biggest portfolio of green-certified buildings in Africa.
