Technology, AI and Critical Infrastructure

Global investments in Data Centers may reach US$ 3 trillion by 2030, with Brazil taking the lead in Latin America

A report released on January 12, 2026, by the credit rating agency Moody’s indicates that global investments in data centers are expected to reach approximately US$ 3 trillion over the next five years, driven by the advancement of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and large-scale digitalization of services.

In this scenario, Brazil stands out as the leading hub in Latin America, accounting for approximately 50% of the region’s infrastructure, with around 200 facilities currently in operation. The country currently ranks 12th globally and projects between BRL 60 billion and BRL 100 billion in new investments by the end of the decade.

According to the Ministry of Communications, structural factors explain Brazil’s leadership, including the broad availability of renewable energy, water resources, a strategic position in international data traffic, and a network of submarine cables connecting the country to different continents.

For the telecommunications sector, the rapid expansion of data center infrastructure reinforces the central role of transport networks, international connectivity, and energy capacity as critical infrastructure for the digital economy. It also intensifies regulatory discussions regarding sustainability, licensing, access to energy, and coordination among data, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure policies.

See the Ministry of Communications’ statement here (in Portuguese).

Brazil and the European Union establish reciprocal recognition in personal data protection

On January 27, 2026, Brazil and the European Union published adequacy decisions in the field of personal data protection, mutually recognizing the equivalence of their respective data protection frameworks. Together, the decisions consolidate the world’s largest area of international data transfer flows considered secure, covering approximately 700 million data subjects.

On the Brazilian side, the recognition formalized by the National Data Protection Authority (“ANPD”) includes the 27 Member States of the European Union, as well as countries belonging to the European Economic Area.

As a result, the need to adopt additional international data transfer mechanisms, such as standard contractual clauses or binding corporate rules, has been eliminated, reducing compliance costs and operational complexity.

The decision also carries economic and institutional significance, as it fosters digital trade and international cooperation and reinforces Brazil’s position among the few South American countries (alongside Argentina and Uruguay) that have received an adequacy decision from the European Union.

See the European Commission’s press release on the matter here.

Industry associations call for urgent processing of REDATA and separation from the AI Bill agenda

On January 29, 2026, representative entities from the technology, telecommunications, software, data center, and digital infrastructure sectors issued a joint statement advocating for the urgent and autonomous processing of Provisional Measure No. 1,318/25, which establishes the Special Regime for Data Center Equipment (“REDATA”).

The document argues that REDATA is a strategic measure to attract investment in computational infrastructure, as it provides tax incentives and greater regulatory predictability for the installation and expansion of data centers in the country. The associations warn that processing REDATA jointly with Bill No. 2,338/2023 (known as the “AI Bill”) may undermine both agendas, given their differing scope and complexity.

The statement also highlights Brazil’s growing trade deficit in computing and information services, which reached US$ 7.8 billion through November 2025, and argues that expanding installed computational capacity in the country is essential to reducing external dependence and increasing national technological autonomy.

Finally, the entities advocate for the immediate adoption of institutional measures to enable the review and deliberation of Provisional Measure No. 1,318/25, including the establishment of a joint committee in the National Congress, the autonomous handling of its legislative process separate from the artificial intelligence agenda, and the prioritization of the matter within the validity period of the provisional measure, which expires on February 25, 2026.

See the full statement here (in Portuguese).

International Data Protection Day: an invitation to reflect on the ANPD’s evolution in recent years

International Data Protection Day is celebrated on January 28. Created in 2006 to promote global awareness of data protection, the date gained particular relevance in Brazil starting in 2020, with the entry into force of the General Data Protection Law (Law No. 13,709/2018 – LGPD) and the establishment of the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD).

To mark the occasion, our Data Protection and Technology team published a detailed analysis of the evolution of the ANPD’s activities and the reasons why 2026 is considered a key year for the strategic prioritization of data protection governance.

See the publication here.

This content is part of the Telecommunications Bulletin for February 2026, bringing together the main regulatory and sector highlights of the period. This material is for informational purposes only. Our Telecommunications team is available to provide specialized legal advice.