Scala Data Centers, the new provider created by Digital Colony from its purchase of UOL Diveo in April, has begun construction of a new data center in São Paulo.

The new facility, called SP3, sits next to an existing Scala facility. The design has already received ANSI / TIA-942-B rated 3 certification, and is due to open in 2021. It will have 13MW of capacity, intended for the expansion of current customers and the growth of the Brazilian market.

Colony backing

The new building will take the company to three data centers in the city, with a potential capacity of 50MW. The project will be funded by Digital Colony and use Digital Colony's operational, design and construction experience, as well as the long history of Scala's engineering team.

"We are deploying equipment with the latest technology throughout the project to ensure the highest level of performance and, above all, superior energy efficiency to reduce the total cost of operations for our customers. This installation will exceed today's standards of modern data centers," said Eugênio Cruz, Scala's director of engineering and operations.

"Brazil is one of the fastest growing markets in the consumption of digital content, driven by the increased use of mobile devices, the adoption of cloud technologies and the growth of the Internet of Things,",said Scala's CEO, Marcos Peigo. "Scala is committed to expanding its presence and supporting its customers, offering services of exceptional quality in world-class data centers, combining flexibility and speed, bringing more competitiveness to the market."

UOL Diveo was formed in 2010 when Brazil's Universo Online (UOL) bought US-owned outsourcing company Diveo, and created a data center division. OUL is owned by media conglomerate Grupo Folha, which sold the data center operation to Digital Colony in April 2020.

Digital Colony has been in an expansive mood. Last year it acquired Brazilian telecoms infrastructure solutions provider Highline from Pátria Investments. In April it also funded Vantage Data Centers' acquisition of Next Generation Data, and in March, it closed its $8.2 billion acquisition of Zayo.

The company is in talks to raise a further $6 billion to invest, and said that "despite current market conditions," it is still looking to invest in more digital infrastructure businesses.

Originally published on DCD Brasil. Translated and edited by Peter Judge