Prime Highlights:
- TikTok will invest over 200 billion reais (around US$37.7 billion) to build its first large-scale data centre in Latin America.
- The new facility will run entirely on renewable wind energy, reinforcing TikTok’s commitment to sustainable growth in Brazil.
Key Facts:
- The data centre will be developed near the Port of Pecém in Ceará, offering direct access to submarine cables connecting Brazil with Europe and Africa.
- TikTok will partner with Omnia and Casa dos Ventos, a leading renewable energy company, to develop and power the centre.
Background:
TikTok, owned by ByteDance, plans to invest over 200 billion reais (about US$37.7 billion) to build a large data centre in Brazil, its first major project in Latin America. The announcement was made on Wednesday during an event in Ceará attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
According to Monica Guise, TikTok Brazil’s head of public policy, the new facility will be developed in partnership with data centre company Omnia and renewable energy leader Casa dos Ventos. The centre will be located near the Port of Pecém in the northeastern state of Ceará and will operate entirely on clean, wind-generated power.
Calling it a “historic investment,” Guise said the move reinforces TikTok’s long-term commitment to Brazil, which is one of the fastest-growing digital markets in the region. Brazil’s strong renewable energy capacity, national grid integration, and extensive fibre-optic network have positioned the country as a prime location for global data-centre expansion linked to AI growth.
The location near Fortaleza gives the project direct access to important submarine cables that link Brazil to Europe and Africa, helping improve the region’s digital network.
President Lula welcomed the project, saying it supports his push to bring more high-tech investment into the country. Earlier this year, he introduced incentives for companies building data centres, including tax-free equipment imports. “This data centre will be a milestone for Brazil’s technological development,” he said, adding that it could inspire similar projects across the country.
TikTok’s expansion in Brazil comes at a time when the company is still seeking a resolution to avoid a potential ban in the United States. The platform continues to face pressure under U.S. security laws requiring ByteDance to divest its American operations.
Despite global tensions, TikTok is pushing ahead with regional data storage plans. The company is already developing a data centre in Finland for European users and continues to rely on Oracle’s cloud services in the United States.
With Brazil emerging as a key digital hub for Latin America, TikTok’s investment is expected to accelerate the country’s role in global AI and data infrastructure development.
