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NTT DATA has become the first network operator in Africa to establish active 400Gbps peering at the Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX), marking a major leap in the continent’s digital infrastructure evolution.
The milestone positions South Africa as one of the most advanced Internet exchange markets globally, capable of supporting hyperscale traffic demands while delivering high-performance, low-latency connectivity.
Africa continues to rank among the fastest-growing digital markets worldwide, fueled by rising Internet penetration, increased submarine cable capacity, and rapid adoption of cloud and digital services. In this environment, investment in high-capacity exchange infrastructure is becoming critical to sustaining economic growth, innovation, and digital inclusion.
NTT DATA’s upgrade represents both a technical achievement and a broader signal of maturity within Africa’s peering ecosystem. By enabling 400Gbps connectivity at JINX, the company is aligning the region’s infrastructure standards with leading global markets.
Established in 1996, JINX is Africa’s oldest Internet exchange point and remains a central pillar of South Africa’s digital backbone. Operated by the Internet Exchange Point of South Africa (INX-ZA), a division of the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), JINX connects networks across multiple Johannesburg data centres, facilitating efficient traffic exchange between ISPs, content providers, and enterprises.
As the operator of the NTT DATA Broadband Network (AS20011), NTT DATA plays a key role in aggregating broadband networks and enabling seamless connectivity across digital ecosystems.
“Africa’s Internet traffic is growing rapidly, and the demand for scalable, resilient, and low-latency connectivity continues to rise,” said JC Burger, Director of Infrastructure Engineering and Operations at NTT DATA South Africa. “Establishing 400Gbps peering at JINX is a strategic investment that strengthens our ability to deliver high-performance connectivity while supporting the long-term growth of Africa’s digital economy.”
For businesses and consumers, the impact is immediate. The increased capacity improves performance during peak usage, enhances service reliability, and provides the scalability needed to support data-intensive applications such as cloud computing, streaming, and AI workloads.
Beyond performance gains, the development underscores South Africa’s readiness for hyperscale peering and reinforces its role as a regional digital hub. It also reflects NTT DATA’s broader commitment to building resilient, carrier-grade infrastructure that can support Africa’s accelerating digital transformation.