Consulting services for the preparation of a feasibility study for the implementation of a new submarine cable system associated with Brazil

Description

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is seeking a specialized consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for a new submarine cable system in Brazil. The project focuses on diversifying digital infrastructure and enhancing regional development, with a mandatory strategic emphasis on the State of Rio Grande do Norte as a key landing or transit point.

1. Market Analysis and Demand Forecasting

- Connectivity Mapping: Analyzing current international capacity, existing data center ecosystems, cloud service trends, and the geographical distribution of landing stations to identify infrastructure concentration risks.

- Predictive Modeling: Developing an analytical model to forecast future data traffic growth, specifically segmenting demand from hyperscalers, corporate users, and digital service providers.

- Resource Assessment: Evaluating the availability of electricity and terrestrial backhaul infrastructure necessary to support new digital hubs.

2. Technical and Route Engineering
The study will evaluate the physical and operational viability of the system:

- Alternative Routes: Identifying at least two domestic and international routes, providing an explicit comparison of technical, economic, and strategic implications for Rio Grande do Norte.

- Preliminary Engineering: Assessing system architecture, integration with existing terrestrial networks, and identifying technical, regulatory, and environmental risks.

- Anchor Points: Identifying potential landing sites and the required auxiliary infrastructure, such as interconnection points and backhaul capacity.

3. Economic, Governance, and Financial Framework
The firm will design the commercial and institutional structure of the project:

- Financial Modeling: Providing preliminary estimates for Capex and Opex, revenue projections, and capacity monetization models.

- Governance and Ownership: Evaluating partnership arrangements between the public and private sectors, including different institutional and operation models.

- Market Sounding: Conducting structured research with telecommunications operators, hyperscalers, and investors to gauge market interest.

- Implementation Roadmap: Delivering a strategic implementation plan and recommending the most appropriate funding structures (public, private, or hybrid).

Note: Interested companies must review the experience requirements in logistics analysis and international data management in the BEO Bidders Portal.