C3ntro Telecom announced a 5 billion peso investment to build a new fiber-optic network connecting Phoenix, Arizona, with Querétaro, Mexico, to strengthen digital infrastructure for data centers and artificial intelligence services. The project, named TIKVA, will cover 2,500 kilometers and expand connectivity in underserved regions.
Major Investment in Digital Infrastructure
- Company: C3ntro Telecom (Mexico)
- Investment: Over 5,000 million pesos
- Project Name: TIKVA
- Route: Phoenix, Arizona → Querétaro, Mexico
- Length: 2,500 km of high-capacity fiber optic cable
The initiative responds to the growing demand from hyperscale data centers driven by artificial intelligence. Querétaro has become Mexico’s leading hub for cloud and data services, while Phoenix is one of the largest U.S. markets.
Strategic Importance
- Objective: Interconnect two of North America’s most important data center hubs.
- Key Users: Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services, Oracle, Apple, Meta.
- Infrastructure: Underground fiber with multiple ducts, designed to handle massive data traffic.
- Support Facilities: 30 mini data centers (ILA nodes) to boost signal transmission and allow local operators to expand services.
Eli Sitt, CEO of C3ntro Telecom, emphasized that connectivity is now as essential as electricity or water, highlighting the need for robust infrastructure to sustain AI-driven industries.
Regional Impact
- States Benefiting: Sonora, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Querétaro.
- Current Fiber Penetration:
- Sonora: 35.2% of households
- Sinaloa: 29.8%
- Durango: 25.6%
- Zacatecas: 28.3%
- Guanajuato: 39.6%
The project will help close the digital divide, particularly in rural areas with limited fiber access, and support industries such as manufacturing and automotive in Guanajuato.
Financing
- Source: Private syndicated credit
- Institutions: Proparco (France) and DEG (Germany, part of KfW Group)
- Focus: Projects with economic and social impact, especially those reducing digital inequality.
The TIKVA network positions Mexico as a strategic player in global cloud and AI infrastructure, offering new opportunities for carriers, regional operators, and industries requiring advanced connectivity. By linking Phoenix and Querétaro, the project strengthens bilateral digital integration between Mexico and the United States.
Source: OEM
