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With 16 Submarine Cables, Fortaleza Is the Main Gateway to the Internet in Brazil and a Global Highlight in Digital Connectivity
Even with the advancement of mobile networks and cloud computing, the global internet still relies on physical connections. The backbone that links continents is formed by nearly 600 submarine fiber optic cables.
These cables are the true pathways through which data such as movies, messages, files, and all types of digital information travel.
In Brazil, a large part of this international connection arrives at a single point: Praia do Futuro, in Fortaleza. There, 16 submarine cables connect the country to other parts of the world, such as Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States.
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Fortaleza: Connection Point of the World
The concentration of cables makes the capital of Ceará one of the most important cities in the world in terms of connectivity.
According to the consultancy TeleGeography, Fortaleza ranks first in Latin America in the number of submarine cables and holds the 17th position in the global ranking. Singapore leads with 28 cables.
Antonio Moreiras, manager of NIC.br, states that about 90% of international internet traffic in Brazil passes through Fortaleza. The city hosts the majority of the cables that arrive in the country.
The geographical position of the capital of Ceará is one of the main factors contributing to this prominence. According to Rodrigo Porto, a Telecommunications professor at UFC, Fortaleza is one of the Brazilian urban centers closest to the USA, Europe, and Africa.
Additionally, Praia do Futuro has ideal characteristics: stable oceanic soil, low population density, and available land for construction.
Renewable Energy and Low Speculation
Another factor that favors Fortaleza is the climate. The region has a high concentration of sea mist, which has prevented the advance of real estate speculation at Praia do Futuro. This has kept the area accessible for internet infrastructure-related constructions.
The production of renewable energy, particularly from solar and wind sources, also strengthens Ceará’s position as a digital hub. According to Professor Porto, this reinforces the region’s choice by major companies in the sector.
Data Centers: The Brains of the Network
The submarine cables transport data between large data centers, also known as data centers.
These facilities function as the “brain” of the internet. Companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, and Netflix store information in these highly secure spaces.
Access control in data centers can include the use of ocular biometrics. In Fortaleza, six data centers are already operating with a high level of certification. One of them is operated by Angola Cables and is located less than 1 km from Praia do Futuro.
The location occupies 3,000 square meters and maintains controlled temperature and humidity day and night. Entry is restricted. Electronic equipment is left outside, and access is through a monitored turnstile.
According to Etice, there are at least three new data centers under construction in Ceará, with an investment of R$ 2.1 billion. There is also a larger project, valued at R$ 50 billion, planned for the Pecém port region.
Giants Eyeing Ceará
This mega project could attract companies like the Chinese ByteDance, owner of TikTok. The information was reported by the Reuters agency. TikTok, however, stated that it neither confirms nor denies interest.
The project leader, Casa dos Ventos, reported that construction will start in the second half of 2025 and is expected to be operational in 2027.
How the Internet Reaches the User
The data center of Angola Cables is also the final point of one of the 16 cables that reach Fortaleza, the cable coming from Angola. It was unfurled by a ship to the seabed and reached the Ceará coast, being buried at Praia do Futuro until it reaches the building.
This cable was connected to the Brazilian network in 2018. A small visible section is protected in an iron cabinet.
From there, the data travels through more cables until it reaches wireless networks, such as Wi-Fi or 5G, used by end users.
When a movie is started on Netflix, for example, the content leaves the nearest data center, traverses the cables to the subscriber’s home, and reaches the device.
If the title is stored outside Brazil, the data crosses the ocean via one of the submarine cables until it reaches the national network.
Thanks to fiber optics, all of this happens in fractions of a second, at speeds close to the speed of light.
The Cloud Has Physical Infrastructure
Although the “cloud” may seem abstract, Professor Rodrigo Porto reminds us that everything depends on engineering. “Everything has a physical medium, there is equipment,” he states.
The Enisa, a European digital security agency, reports that 97% of data between continents is transported via submarine cables. Only 3% pass through satellites, used primarily in areas where fiber optics does not reach.
When There Is a Fault in the Submarine Cable
Submarine cables typically last around 25 years. Even before that, they can experience faults or suffer sabotage. In coastal areas, divers can make repairs. At great depths, it is necessary to use robots or bring the cable to the surface.
Since the outset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, at least 11 cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged, with suspicions of sabotage.
In the case of Fortaleza, a fault in one of the cables could affect the updating of platforms like Netflix, for example. However, since the majority of internet traffic in Brazil comes from servers within the country, the impact would be limited.
Antonio Moreiras explains that between 70% and 80% of the data consumed by Brazilians is generated within their own territory.
The majority of videos, social networks, and cloud data would continue to flow normally. This is possible thanks to the infrastructure of IX.br, which ensures the stability of internal traffic.
With information from BBC.
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