RT-One Sets Sights on Brazil with US$1.2bn Data Centre

RT-One’s new data centre in Uberlândia marks a shift in Brazil’s role in the global digital economy. 

The company’s initial investment of R$6bn (US$1.2bn), is dedicated to AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity. 

RT-One’s move brings advanced digital infrastructure to a country still developing its AI capabilities and opens up new possibilities for regional and international data processing.

Scaling AI infrastructure with purpose-built design

The Uberlândia campus will span 245,000 square metres as part of a larger technology park, with the data centre set to become one of Latin America’s largest AI-focused facilities. 

RT-One adopts a modular construction method that enables quick rollout of operational units while maintaining flexibility for future demand. This construction strategy is built around high-efficiency infrastructure practices, allowing it to scale at pace.

The site begins with 100 megawatts (MW) of contracted power capacity, with plans to expand up to 400 MW. This capacity is critical for the high-performance computing workloads that AI models require. 

RT-One is introducing new technologies to support the demand, including liquid cooling systems and high-efficiency energy management.

As AI model size and complexity continue to grow, RT-One sees an increasing need for infrastructure that can handle larger training sets and compute-intensive processes. 

By locating in Brazil, it takes advantage of available energy and connectivity, while offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to AI data processing elsewhere.

RT-One sees data centres as essential infrastructure in the digital age — the factories of the modern world. 

They support everything from phone calls and banking operations to AI-powered innovations in healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing and finance. As AI becomes more central to economic productivity, RT-One’s data centres aim to become the engines of Brazil’s digital future.

Commitment to sustainability from the ground up

From its first day of operation, RT-One’s Uberlândia data centre will meet strict sustainability requirements. 

The project is designed to align with the company’s Zero Carbon target, using Brazil’s renewable energy resources to reduce its environmental footprint. The data centre incorporates low-water-consumption cooling systems, advanced liquid cooling and energy optimisation strategies to manage efficiency at scale.

RT-One intends to make this the first large-scale data centre in Brazil to meet Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) below 1.2—a key measure of energy efficiency in data centre operations. The facility will also pursue international sustainability certification, bringing it in line with some of the most efficient data centres worldwide.

The new facility will be the first large-scale data centre in Brazil designed to achieve Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) below 1.2 and international sustainability certification — a move that underscores RT-One’s long-term commitment to sustainability excellence.

Uberlândia’s strong infrastructure and clean energy availability make it an attractive location. A joint study with CEMIG, the regional energy provider, has confirmed capacity to support the 100 MW power demands, with energy supply guaranteed. The city’s strategic location gives access to São Paulo, Brasília, Goiânia and Belo Horizonte.

Boosting jobs, skills and local partnerships

Over the first three years, the project is expected to create approximately 2,000 permanent jobs—both direct and indirect—along with hundreds of temporary roles during construction. 

As the project unfolds, RT-One will partner with local universities and research institutions to develop a skilled workforce in fields like AI, cloud services and cybersecurity. This local engagement reflects a long-term commitment to building knowledge and partnerships alongside infrastructure.

Uberlândia was recently ranked 4th best place to live in Brazil and 1st in Minas Gerais, according to the ‘Municipal Management Challenges 2024’ index published by Macroplan. Key strengths cited include healthcare, education, safety and infrastructure — factors that contributed to RT-One’s site selection.

RT-One’s strategy brings global technology players into the fold. 

Partners like Supermicro, Endor Development and LZA are involved in ensuring the infrastructure is tailored to regional needs such as higher temperatures and energy grid integration.

By combining scalable technology, a sustainable footprint and strong regional partnerships, RT-One is not only building a data centre in Uberlândia—it is laying the foundations for a new chapter in Brazil’s digital evolution.