Data Centers in Fortaleza

Fortaleza – Strategic Subsea Cable Hub

Executive Summary

Fortaleza is the premier North Atlantic connectivity hub for South America. Its strategic coastal location hosts more subsea cable landings than any other city in Brazil, making it the essential market for businesses that require the lowest possible latency between South America, North America, and Europe. For content delivery networks, global enterprises, and carriers, deploying in Fortaleza directly translates to superior network performance and a competitive edge.

Fortaleza: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Fortaleza's value is defined by its international network access. It serves as the primary gateway for data entering and leaving Brazil from the Northern Hemisphere.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The market features 11 data centers operated by 13 providers, as of September 2025. This environment provides sufficient choice for creating redundant, carrier-neutral network architectures.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no public cloud on-ramps located directly within Fortaleza, as of September 2025. All major cloud providers are accessed via the national fiber backbone, with the primary interconnection hub located in São Paulo. Secure, private connections to cloud regions can be established through carrier partners.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The metro is served by IX.br (formerly PTT.br), which significantly improves traffic exchange efficiency for the entire Northeast region of Brazil by keeping local traffic local.

Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are readily available from providers in the region. Global and local specialists such as Latitude.sh and Hivelocity offer dedicated server solutions from Fortaleza.

Power Analysis

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity rates are estimated between R$0.50–R$0.70/kWh, as of September 2025. This cost is influenced by Brazil's national grid, which is approximately 60% hydroelectric. Predictable power pricing is a key advantage for long-term operational expense planning.

Power Grid Reliability: The power grid serving Fortaleza's commercial zones is reliable for mission-critical operations. Data centers are supported by a grid that draws from a diverse generation mix. All colocation facilities provide extensive N+1 or 2N UPS and generator backup systems to ensure continuous uptime.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers in Fortaleza are strategically located to serve the city's commercial center and, more importantly, the subsea cable landing stations that line its coast. This proximity is critical for financial services, content companies, and carriers.

Regional Market Reach: Fortaleza is the digital gateway for the more than 57 million people in Brazil's Northeast region. Its subsea cable infrastructure provides the lowest-latency path for this population to access services hosted in North America and Europe.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Brazil offers specific tax incentives that benefit data center operators and their customers. The government provides tax breaks and exemptions on certain IT-related capital expenditures, including tariff relief for imported data center equipment, which helps lower the total cost of ownership.

Natural Disaster Risk

Fortaleza has a High-risk profile, with an INFORM Risk score of 5.2 out of 10, as of September 2025. The score reflects a combination of natural hazard exposure and regional economic and institutional factors.

The primary natural hazards for the area are:

• River Flood Risk (7.7/10)
• Coastal Flood Risk (5.0/10)
• Drought Risk (4.5/10)

Risks from earthquakes and tropical cyclones are negligible. Businesses should confirm that data center facilities are located outside of designated flood zones and have been engineered to withstand regional environmental risks.