BBIX, a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp., has announced the expansion of its Open Connectivity eXchange (OCX) service to include Microsoft Azure at NEC's Inzai Data Center in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. This development, effective April 25, 2025, enhances the cloud connectivity options available to OCX users, facilitating more flexible and resilient network architectures. (bbix.net)
OCX is a cloud-based network service that provides on-demand, secure, low-latency, and scalable connectivity to various cloud services and data centers. The introduction of Microsoft Azure support at the NEC Inzai Data Center allows customers to establish 'Cloud Connections'—virtual interfaces for connecting to cloud services—thereby increasing the number of connection points and offering a broader selection of cloud services. This expansion is particularly significant for organizations aiming to design network configurations that prioritize redundancy and geographic diversity.
The collaboration between BBIX and NEC is not new. In August 2022, the two companies signed a business partnership agreement to enhance data center connectivity. This partnership led to the integration of NEC's Inzai and Kanagawa Data Centers into the OCX network, enabling customers to connect to OCX from these facilities and benefit from secure, high-quality network environments. (bbix.net)
NEC has been proactive in enhancing its data center offerings. In June 2022, the company established a connection point to Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute at its Inzai Data Center, becoming the first IT service provider to offer such a connection from its own facility. This initiative aimed to provide low-latency, secure connectivity to Azure, supporting customers' digital transformation efforts. (nec.com)
The addition of Microsoft Azure support at the NEC Inzai Data Center is part of BBIX's broader strategy to expand its cloud connectivity services. In April 2024, BBIX announced that OCX would support Microsoft Azure at its Osaka location, further enhancing the flexibility and redundancy of network designs for customers across Japan. (bbix.net)
BBIX's OCX service is designed to meet the growing demand for multi-cloud environments by providing direct connectivity to multiple cloud services over the same Internet Exchange (IX) port. This approach offers high security, low latency, and scalable access to various cloud platforms, including Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and others. (bbix.net)
The expansion of OCX to include Microsoft Azure at NEC's Inzai Data Center underscores the importance of strategic partnerships in the evolving cloud services landscape. By combining BBIX's network solutions with NEC's data center services, the collaboration aims to accelerate customers' digital transformation initiatives and support business growth in the multi-cloud era.
In summary, the integration of Microsoft Azure support into BBIX's OCX service at NEC's Inzai Data Center represents a significant advancement in cloud connectivity options for businesses in Japan. This development offers enhanced flexibility, security, and scalability, enabling organizations to design robust network architectures that align with their digital transformation goals.
Source: Telecompaper Telecompaper
