NTT Data in talks with telecom infra group for LatAm private networks alliance

ICT multinational NTT Data, which is part of Japan's NTT conglomerate, is negotiating a partnership with a global telecom infra firm with operations in Latin America to tap into opportunities in the private networks segment, BNamericas was told.

"We are discussing a partnership with a multinational network infrastructure company, whose name we cannot disclose yet, so that, when bringing the infrastructure to their customers, they place NTT Data as a partner for the integration, automation and monetization of that network,” Marco Galaz, partner at NTT Data Brasil and telecom leader, told BNamericas.

The Japanese group, one of the largest IT services firm in the world, aims to leverage gains with the expected 5G-fueled growth of private systems for industries in Latin America by operating as an integrator and orchestrator of workloads, solutions and network traffic.

According to Galaz, in addition to working with partners - such as telecom infra firms - NTT Data is also prospecting directly with companies from verticals it currently serves: banking, insurance, health, industry, utilities and energy, and distribution and retail.

“We identify whether or not the customer in question wants to have a mobile operator behind their network, or if the end-customer wants to hire the network directly from a supplier and use NTT Data only as an integrator,” said the executive.

In an interview with BNamericas in April, Americas CEO Miguel Teixeira said the company was working on “two or three projects” related to 5G and private networks in Latin America, one being in a partnership with Chile’s government.

NTT Data has a long-standing partnership with Spanish telco Telefónica. In terms of private networks, they worked together in the implementation of security features and access control operations in the Spanish port of Malaga, via a 5G network.

NTT Data’s portfolio for private 5G services includes SIM and eSIM support, carrier management and a global service delivery platform.

The group also offers managed network services for the integration of 5G into corporate networks, with Network-as-a-Service and Device-as-a-Service capabilities, as well as application development and systems integration, among other services.

Earlier this month, NTT Data reported Q2 results for its 2022 fiscal year with net sales of 1.37tn yen (US$9.79bn), up 13.1% year-over-year. It does not provide regional sales figures.

NTT Data is among the six largest IT services firms with over US$20bn in annual revenue.