NTT Smart Connect Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; President and CEO: Takehito Miyokaku; hereinafter "the Company") will begin providing a new Data Center Interconnect (DCI) service in the Osaka metropolitan area starting January 1, 2027 (Fri). In addition to the existing in-house cabling service between company-operated data centers (DCs) in central Osaka, this new service will enhance connectivity with third-party data centers, thereby improving customer convenience. 1. Background and Objectives To date, the Company has provided cabling services between its own DCs in central Osaka, including "Dōjima Connect," addressing interconnection needs in the Kansai region. With the rapid adoption of AI and the shift toward an AI-driven society, demand is increasing for secure, high-quality, long-distance, high-capacity, and low-latency communications that go beyond traditional frameworks—such as connecting distributed computing resources both domestically and internationally, and strengthening existing digital infrastructure. To meet this demand, the NTT Group is deploying "AIOWN" (*1), an AI-native infrastructure, and the Company will expand its service offerings centered on DCs and DCI in western Japan. Through flexible, high-quality digital infrastructure, we aim to support our customers' business growth. As the first step in this initiative, we will launch a DCI service that seamlessly connects data centers in central Osaka and the surrounding metropolitan areas. Going forward, centered on the Dōjima Campus—one of Japan's largest Internet Exchange (IX) hubs—and leveraging core DCs in Osaka and Fukuoka, we will integrate NTT Group's IOWN technologies and diverse partner services to connect major domestic locations—including Osaka, Fukuoka, and Tokyo—as well as landing stations, thereby expanding the provision of highly reliable and highly available digital infrastructure. (Illustration: Future Business Expansion Focused on DC and DCI) 2. S