DIA has named Datacom and Revera as its providers of infrastructure as a service but is still in negotiation with IBM as a possible provider.

Hartendorp says Dimension Data is unique because it is prepared to buy back assets and turn them into a cloud. "In fact, our cloud service is cheaper than our managed service," he says. "You can buy from us in various shapes and sizes."

He says Dimension Data recently deployed its first private cloud for Accenture in The Netherlands.

"And under OneCloud, we've just built six data centres to service BSNL, India's largest telco," Hartendorp says.