Brazilian RNP Formalizes New National Data Center in Partnership with Elea Data Centers
Infrastructure for RNP Education System Institutions Will Be Located in Elea’s BSB2 data center in Brasília
Rio de Janeiro, January 9, 2025 – RNP has announced the addition of a new National Data Center (CND) to serve the educational and research institutions within its system. This development is part of a technical cooperation agreement with Elea Data Centers, Brazil’s leading sustainable data center platform with the largest geographic coverage in the country. The new CND is housed in Elea’s Tier 3 data center in Brasília, BSB2, a key regional traffic exchange hub powered by 100% renewable energy. The initiative aims to enhance colocation services for the academic community while enabling new offerings and business models, including greater capacity for secure and private storage of large data volumes.
“National Data Centers provide a distributed service infrastructure for RNP system institutions. The first service offered is colocation, which lays the groundwork for additional offerings such as secure large-scale data storage, community hybrid cloud solutions, artificial intelligence (AI), and high-performance computing (HPC),” said Antônio Carlos F. Nunes, RNP’s Director of Services and Solutions. “This strategic vision is strengthened by partnering with a leading data center company recognized for its expertise in operating highly specialized environments and its strong commitment to energy sustainability.”
“This partnership with an organization dedicated to research and development is of great importance,” highlighted Márcia Salomão, Elea’s Director of Government Business. “The exchange of information and technology will be vital in driving new business opportunities and advancing the research sector, which is crucial for our country.”
The National Data Centers initiative, part of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation’s (MCTI) Conecta Program, receives funding from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT). The first CND was inaugurated earlier this year in São Paulo following the same model. The Elea Brasília center is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2025.
“We’re delighted to collaborate with Elea, a national company like RNP. Elea not only has a presence across Brazil but also prioritizes sustainability, which is a crucial focus for us. We are now ready and equipped to support the initial installations for RNP System institutions that wish to join this infrastructure,” emphasized Luiz Coelho, RNP’s Deputy Director of Service Management.
Elea, known for its sustainable platform and the most extensive geographic reach in Brazil, distinguishes itself with its commitment to using 100% renewable and certified energy. The company operates nine data centers across five major Brazilian metropolitan areas, offering capacity and scale to meet the needs of leading cloud, content, and service providers, as well as the corporate sector.
“One of Elea’s goals is to bring cutting-edge technology and the premium high-availability data center experience to regions beyond the Rio-São Paulo axis. Our state-of-the-art IT infrastructure is also available at our sites in Brasília, Porto Alegre, and Curitiba,” noted Gustavo Pereira, Elea’s IT Director.
The Origins of the National Data Centers
The National Data Centers project for RNP institutions began in 2021 when RNP identified the need for nationwide information storage facilities. In 2022, an initial study (RFI – Request for Information) was conducted, helping RNP better understand the sector and its key players.
By 2023, the project advanced under the MCTI’s Conecta Program. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was launched, leading to the establishment of the first CND in São Paulo last year. The second CND, in partnership with Elea Data Centers, is now operational in Brasília, focusing on RNP system needs. A third center, set to open in Fortaleza, Ceará, is projected to begin operations in the second half of 2025.
The CNDs represent a significant milestone for Brazil’s academic institutions. Strategically located, they form the foundation for the country’s digital transformation and scientific progress, providing equipment hosting, secure and scalable data storage, high-performance data movement, and support for applications such as high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI).
About RNP
RNP is Brazil’s national network for education and research, offering secure, high-capacity internet services, customized solutions, and fostering innovation projects. Its system supports universities, educational and cultural institutes, research agencies, teaching hospitals, and tech parks, benefiting 4 million students, professors, and researchers. RNP played a key role in bringing the internet to Brazil and connects all regions of the country while linking to education and research networks across Latin America, North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania via terrestrial and submarine fiber optic cables. It operates as a social organization under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) and is funded by various ministries including Education, Communications, Tourism, Health, and Defense.
About Elea Data Centers
Based in Rio de Janeiro, Elea Data Centers is Brazil’s pioneering data center platform, with a mission to accelerate sustainable digital transformation in the region. Powered entirely by renewable energy, Elea boasts the country’s most extensive IT infrastructure network, with nine data centers across five major cities. The company supports large-scale cloud, content, and service providers, as well as the corporate market. Backed by local and global financial institutions, Elea offers a portfolio aligned with cutting-edge technological trends, supporting high-density computing and solutions ranging from cloud services to artificial intelligence (AI). For more information, visit www.eleadatacenters.com.
