Axia Energia’s Eletronet Links 18,000 km Brazil Fiber Network to Global Internet for AI and Cloud Push

Eletronet, the telecommunications infrastructure subsidiary of Axia Energia, has finalized a partnership with global Internet Exchange (IX) operator DE-CIX to connect its extensive national fiber network to the global internet ecosystem, a strategic move aimed at meeting the rapidly escalating demand for low-latency services driven by cloud computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Brazil. The deal immediately extends the reach of Eletronet's 18,000 kilometer fiber backbone—which spans 18 Brazilian states—to DE-CIX’s global ecosystem, including direct links to North American and European networks. By becoming a Standard Reseller Partner for DE-CIX, Eletronet can now offer its wholesale clients, which include Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and data centers across Brazil, direct access to the global peering and cloud connectivity services necessary for the next generation of data-intensive workloads.

For foreign observers, the partnership underscores the maturation of Brazil’s digital economy, which is the largest in Latin America. Eletronet operates a critical, high-resilience network built using Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) technology, installing fiber optic cables along high-voltage electricity transmission lines. This unique infrastructure allows Eletronet to provide connectivity across a wide geographic swath of the country. The technical mechanism of the deal is to reduce latency and improve resilience, cutting the distance data must travel by providing Brazilian enterprises and ISPs with a shorter path to cloud providers and digital platforms via the world’s leading Internet Exchange. The improved interconnectivity supports the transition to more distributed and real-time computing applications that the expansion of AI models and advanced cloud services requires.

The collaboration with DE-CIX coincides with a significant, independent investment cycle for Eletronet. The company is currently executing a plan to expand its fiber network by 44%, from its current 18,000 kilometers to 26,000 kilometers of routes by the end of 2026. This R$157 million expansion project also includes adding 85 new edge data centers to its existing infrastructure, increasing its total from 170 to 255 across 23 states. The investment, partially financed by Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), is explicitly a response to the growing need for high-capacity networks to support everything from the Internet of Things to large-scale data centers.

The next major point of focus will be the deployment timeline of this expanded access across the country, especially how quickly regional ISPs and businesses in the interior of Brazil can utilize the new low-latency global connectivity. With a major expansion of both the national fiber backbone and local edge data centers running concurrently, Eletronet is laying the physical foundation for a substantial increase in digital traffic and cloud adoption. This infrastructure shift is critical for both domestic and multinational companies looking to leverage data-intensive applications to compete in the Brazilian market.

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What it touches

This deal is a development within Brazil’s telecommunications infrastructure and wholesale connectivity sector. The parent company of Eletronet, Axia Energia, has stock (AXIA3) traded on the B3 exchange in São Paulo, meaning this operational expansion and strategic global partnership is material to the company's long-term business strategy as a neutral infrastructure hub.