<strong>-Convergencialatina: How has the neutral network model evolved, and how has the market adopted it?

-Lucas Aliberti (LA): The neutral network has gone from being a thesis to becoming an infrastructure model. The market has understood that sharing assets makes it possible to accelerate expansion, increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary duplication of investments. V.tal was founded on this logic and has been extending the concept to different layers of digital infrastructure.

Fiber remains a core asset, but our scope of operations is broader today. We have terrestrial networks, international connectivity through submarine cables and solutions for mobile networks, as well as the complementarity of Tecto’s data centers. Tecto is part of the same economic group as V.tal. This evolution reflects the market itself: as 5G, cloud computing and artificial intelligence advance, and the volume of data in circulation continues to grow, so does the need for more robust, integrated infrastructure capable of supporting that demand.

-Convergencialatina: You mentioned Tecto. What is the current situation of that business unit?

-LA: Tecto has been expanding its operations to keep pace with growing demand for digital infrastructure, driven by cloud computing, artificial intelligence and the increase in data processing.

The growth of cloud computing and AI is increasing not only demand for processing but also demand for the infrastructure needed to connect and transport this growing volume of data. This is where the complementary ecosystem between Tecto and V.tal becomes relevant. Integrating Tecto’s assets with V.tal’s connectivity infrastructure makes it possible to combine processing, high-performance connectivity and access to national and international networks, strengthening Tecto’s positioning as an integrated platform. Projects such as Tecto’s new campus in Porto Alegre, connected to the Malbec system, and the company’s expansion in Fortaleza, an important international connectivity hub, illustrate this strategy of developing infrastructure prepared to serve hyperscalers, cloud providers, technology companies and corporate customers.

-Convergencialatina: How are you approaching the 5G and fiber tandem in Brazil?

-LA: The further 5G advances, the more important fiber becomes. The more mobile the user experience, the more fixed infrastructure there is behind it. This infrastructure also needs to reach very different locations. The same solution cannot be used for an avenue, a shopping mall or a subway line. That is why V.tal works with both fiber and solutions for mobile networks, such as FTTower, IBS for indoor environments and Street Level Solution for outdoor areas. Infrastructure sharing is a way to make this expansion more efficient. The same infrastructure can serve different operators, rather than each one having to replicate similar structures in the same location.

-Convergencialatina: How are the terrestrial and submarine networks integrated?

-LA: It no longer makes sense to analyze submarine and terrestrial networks as isolated infrastructures. The value lies precisely in their integration. The submarine cable creates the international connection, while the terrestrial network carries that connectivity to different regions and points of consumption. Malbec demonstrates this very clearly. The cable lands in Balneário Pinhal and, from there, connects to fully underground and redundant terrestrial infrastructure to Porto Alegre. With this extension, southern Brazil will have its first direct international data route and add an alternative to routes that are currently concentrated in the country’s southeast. Synapse will also be integrated into the terrestrial network on the connection between Brazil and the United States. These projects demonstrate that it makes no sense to think separately about the submarine cable, backbone or data center. The integration of these infrastructures is what makes it possible to expand connectivity, create new routes and provide more resilient paths for data traffic.

-Convergencialatina: What is V.tal’s position on Big Techs’ contribution to the construction of new infrastructure?

-LA: Big Techs play an important role because they are among the companies that demand the most infrastructure to process, transport and distribute data. With the advancement of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, streaming and content distribution, this need has been growing and requires infrastructure to evolve at the same pace.

Rather than debating a single contribution model, we believe there are different forms of collaboration between those generating demand and those developing infrastructure. What matters is creating the conditions for investment and network development to keep pace with the exponential growth in traffic.

Malbec is a concrete example. The alliance between V.tal and Meta enables a new international route through southern Brazil and increases the resilience of the region’s infrastructure.

Synapse was also conceived with the growth in demand from Big Techs, hyperscalers, content providers and cloud service providers in mind. These companies need to move very large volumes of data and demand infrastructure capable of growing alongside their businesses, with new routes, greater path diversity and new points of connection.

Digital infrastructure is no longer made up of isolated assets. Terrestrial fiber, mobile networks, submarine cables and data centers must operate as an integrated ecosystem. Neutrality allows this ecosystem to be shared by different players, providing greater efficiency, scale and resilience across the entire chain.