BBSakura Networks

What BBSakura Networks does

BBSakura Networks株式会社 (BBSakura Networks Inc.) is a private Japanese joint venture, established August 1, 2019, between BBIX (a wholly-owned subsidiary of SoftBank and operator of internet exchange services) and Sakura Internet (an independent cloud and data center provider). The company develops the OCX (Open Connectivity eXchange) platform, a software-defined, cloud-based private networking exchange that provides on-demand connectivity between data centers, public clouds (AWS, Sakura Cloud, Microsoft Azure via MAPS), mobile networks, SaaS services, and the internet, without traversing the public internet. OCX spans 52 connection points across Japan and internationally in Thailand and Singapore as of December 2025, with a sub-product portfolio including OCX-Router (managed virtual routing with BGP), OCX Mobile Access (SIM-based private mobile connectivity launched March 2025), OCX光プライベート (dedicated optical lines at 1G/10G), OCX Cloud Fabric (jointly with IDC Frontier), Internet Gateway, SaaS Connection, SmartVPN Connection, Tunnel Gateway, and Traffic Report analytics. The company also operates AS2915, a historically significant autonomous system number.

BBSakura's business model is structured as a software platform vendor embedded within a two-parent distribution channel: BBSakura develops the OCX software, while BBIX and Sakura Internet commercialize and deliver the service to end customers through their respective enterprise sales organizations. Additional revenue is generated through OCX Mobile Access SIM and Data Pack subscriptions purchased via the OCX portal, and through partner-driven access line services via regional ISPs (Phoenix), cable operators (Optage), and data center partners (IDC Frontier, ICC). The company's go-to-motion is enterprise field sales executed by the parents, supplemented by technical content marketing (a developer-focused tech blog on Hatena), open-source contributions (GoBGP, VPP SRv6 MUP, FRR), and active participation in industry events (JANOG, IETF, Interop Tokyo), where OCX won the Interop Tokyo 2025 Grand Prix in the Mobile Computing (5G/6G) category. Customer segments span telecommunications carriers and mobile operators, enterprises and government agencies pursuing digital transformation, regional ISPs and cable operators seeking nationwide reach, and cloud/SaaS users requiring private connectivity. In 2025, the company underwent a leadership transition with Kawabata/Kawahata succeeding founding Representative Director Sasaki, coinciding with international expansion and the launch of mobile access services.

Name

BBSakura Networks

Legal name

BBSakura Networks株式会社

Website

https://bbsakura.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

BBSakura Networks is a Japanese joint venture (BBIX/SoftBank + Sakura Internet, founded 2019) that develops OCX, a software-defined private networking platform spanning 52 connection points in Japan, Thailand, and Singapore, serving telecom carriers, enterprises, and government agencies with on-demand data center, cloud, and mobile connectivity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cloud Network Infrastructure

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)

akta.pro primary industry

NFV Infrastructure (NFVI), Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) & Cloud-Native Network Functions (CNFs) (HDAIAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual & Cloud Routing (vRouters/CNF Routing) (HDAFABAF), Cloud Networking & Virtual Networking (VPC/VNet) (HDABAFAG), Network Monitoring, Assurance & Managed NOC Services (SLA Ops) (HDAIAGAJ)

Keywords

• Private network connectivity
• Cloud networking platform
• Data center interconnect
• Mobile network access
• Network virtualization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Shinjuku

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Software Platform Licensing to Parent Companies: BBSakura develops OCX software; the developed software is commercialized by BBIX and Sakura Internet and rolled out to the market. Revenue flows through the parent companies' commercialization of BBS's software products and services.
2. OCX Mobile Access SIM/Data Pack Sales: OCX Mobile Access provides SIM cards (SIM Pack) and data communication capacity (Data Pack) purchases through the OCX portal. Revenue is generated through per-SIM and per-Data Pack unit pricing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BBSakura Networks develops and operates OCX (Open Connectivity eXchange), a cloud-based software-defined private networking platform co-developed with BBIX (a SoftBank subsidiary). OCX provides on-demand, secure private connectivity between data centers, cloud platforms (AWS, Microsoft 365 via MAPS, Sakura Cloud), mobile networks (via OCX Mobile Access SIMs), offices/branches (via OCX光プライベート dedicated fiber), and the internet — without traversing the public internet. The platform operates across 52 connection points in Japan, Thailand, and Singapore, and includes a virtual router (OCX-Router), Traffic Report analytics, and APIs for provisioning.

Product overview

BBSakura Networks operates OCX (Open Connectivity eXchange), a cloud-based networking platform co-developed with BBIX (SoftBank's internet exchange subsidiary). The platform provides on-demand private connectivity services — encompassing data center interconnects (DCI), cloud connections (AWS, Sakura Cloud), mobile access via SIM (OCX Mobile Access), dedicated fiber (OCX光プライベート), virtual routing (OCX-Router), internet connectivity (Internet Connection, Internet Gateway), SaaS access (SaaS Connection), VPN (SmartVPN Connection), and Tunnel Gateway for NTT Flets integration. As of 2025-12, OCX spans 52 locations including international nodes in Thailand and Singapore. The company was established in August 2019 as a joint venture between BBIX and Sakura Internet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OCX (Open Connectivity eXchange) A regionally distributed, cloud-based private networking platform jointly developed by BBIX and BBSakura Networks. Provides on-demand, closed-network connectivity between data centers, cloud platforms (AWS, Microsoft 365 via MAPS, Sakura Cloud), mobile networks (via OCX Mobile Access SIMs), offices/branches (via dedicated fiber), and the internet via NAPT, without traversing the public internet. As of December 2025, OCX operates 52 connection points across Japan, Thailand, and Singapore. Targets network operators, large enterprises, government agencies, and regional ISPs.
• OCX Mobile Access Mobile network access line service enabling SIM-based closed network connectivity to the OCX platform. Provides Virtual Mobile Gateway (VMG), SIM cards, SIM Packs, and Data Packs. Supports multi-carrier connectivity (added May 2025), per-VMG data pack allocation (added June 2026), and integration with Microsoft 365 via MAPS. Targets mobile operators, MVNOs, and enterprises requiring private mobile connectivity.
• OCX Cloud Fabric (OCF) Cloud infrastructure service jointly provided by BBIX and IDC Frontier, utilizing BBIX and BBSakura Networks' OCX cloud-based networking platform. Distributes cloud capacity across multiple data centers in different regions of Japan for regional cloud delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced network complexity — BGP settings aggregated at OCX-Router, enabling management consolidation for multi-site private networks.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• F5 Networks Japan GKcoreTechnology or Integration · 10 February 2026BBIX (and by extension BBSakura Networks) partnered with F5 Networks Japan GK to develop and market next-generation security services combining network and application layer protection. The collaboration integrates F5's security technology with BBIX's cloud-based network service OCX to address sophisticated cyberattacks and AI-driven threats that traditional perimeter defenses cannot handle. The partnership targets enterprises and government agencies advancing digital transformation initiatives.
• BBIXflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBIX is a 100% subsidiary of SoftBank and is one of BBSakura Networks' two parent companies (joint venture). BBIX operates the internet exchange business and co-develops the OCX platform with BBSakura Networks. BBIX commercializes OCX through its sales channels and provides the IX infrastructure ecosystem.
• Sakura Internet (さくらインターネット)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSakura Internet is one of BBSakura Networks' two parent companies (joint venture). BBSakura develops software (OCX) that is commercialized by Sakura Internet. Sakura Internet provides data center infrastructure, cloud services, and enterprise network customer access. BBS Sakura's Ishikari Data Center is referenced as a key operational location.
• IDC FrontiercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC Frontier jointly provides the OCF (OCX Compute Fabric) cloud infrastructure service with BBIX, utilizing BBIX and BBSakura Networks' OCX platform. OCF is a regionally distributed cloud service that distributes cloud infrastructure across multiple data centers in different regions in Japan.
• Phoenix (フェニックス)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBIX and Phoenix expanded collaboration for regional ISP upstream network efficiency and DX promotion. A new base was opened in Kumamoto as the 3rd domestic location following Hiroshima and Kochi. Phoenix is a regional ISP leveraging OCX for network expansion.
• Optage (オプテージ)coreTechnology or IntegrationOptage, a regional cable/ISP operator, partnered to provide dark fiber (4-core, 2-strand) from Kongre Convention Center to their data center for JANOG57 conference network. OCX was used as the backbone. OPTAGE Connection was formally connected to OCX in January 2026, expanding OCX's Kansai region coverage.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Megaport: Megaport is a global Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) provider enabling on-demand, software-defined connectivity between data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise locations. Closest comparable to BBSakura's OCX model — both deliver private, API-provisioned interconnection without dedicated hardware.
• PacketFabric: PacketFabric provides automated, on-demand network connectivity as a service between data centers and cloud providers. Highly comparable to OCX's software-defined, self-service connectivity model with API-driven provisioning.
• ConsoleConnect: ConsoleConnect (by PCCW Global) delivers an on-demand, software-defined interconnection platform for direct cloud and data center connectivity. Competes head-to-head with OCX in the global NaaS category, with similar cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-data-center routing features.
• Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ): IIJ is a leading Japanese internet/network services provider offering enterprise connectivity, cloud, and managed services. Directly comparable to BBSakura in the Japanese market with overlapping enterprise network services and SD-WAN offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Equinix Fabric: Equinix Fabric (formerly Equinix Cloud Exchange) is the dominant global interconnection platform enabling private connections between thousands of data centers and cloud providers. A broader incumbent with much larger footprint but overlapping core functionality with OCX's data center interconnect use cases.
• Colt Technology Services: Colt provides enterprise network services including on-demand connectivity (Colt On Demand SDN platform) with strong APAC and Japanese presence. Larger incumbent with broader portfolio but overlapping on-demand private connectivity functionality.
• NTT Communications: NTT Com (under NTT Group) is a major Japanese and global telecom provider with extensive enterprise network, cloud connectivity, and data center services. Competes with OCX for Japanese enterprise private connectivity budgets, especially through Arcstar Universal One.
• KDDI: KDDI is one of Japan's largest telecom carriers with enterprise network services, data centers, and cloud connectivity offerings. Overlaps with OCX in private connectivity, mobile network integration, and enterprise DX services for the Japanese market.

Emerging players

• Aryaka Networks: Aryaka delivers managed SD-WAN and SASE with private network backbone connectivity for global enterprises. Comparable to OCX in providing private, optimized connectivity for multi-site enterprise and cloud access, though more weighted to SD-WAN/SASE bundle.
• Cloudflare Magic WAN / Magic Transit: Cloudflare Magic WAN delivers cloud-native, software-defined WAN and private network connectivity via Cloudflare's global network. Comparable emerging player to OCX in shifting private networking to a cloud-native, software-defined model, with significantly larger global scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BBSakura Networks