3 Essential Data Center Stories for Infrastructure Leaders
From a US$25 billion OpenAI data centre venture in Argentina to Telus slashing its dividend by 55 percent while planning a C$1 billion data centre build in British Columbia, today's news on data centers reveals a sector in dramatic transformation. This press review, grounded in print media monitoring and media intelligence from Canada's leading publications, tracks the three stories that matter most for infrastructure and investment leaders.
1. US$25 Billion OpenAI Data Centre in Argentina
The Globe And Mail (ottawa/quebec Edition) reports that tech companies are turning to Argentina's Patagonia region to build massive data centres, drawn by cool temperatures, renewable energy, and shale gas. Pampa Energia is pushing for a data centre near its Loma de la Lata power plant in Neuquen province that would consume up to 500 megawatts from the Vaca Muerta shale formation. Open AI also announced a partnership with Sur Energy on a clean-energy data centre costing up to 25 billion US dollars.
OpenAI has announced a partnership with Sur Energy on a clean-energy data centre in Argentina's Patagonia region, valued at up to US$25 billion. The project is part of a broader wave of tech companies turning to Patagonia for its cool temperatures, renewable energy, and access to shale gas. Pampa Energia is also pushing for a data centre near its Loma de la Lata power plant in Neuquen province, which would consume up to 500 megawatts from the Vaca Muerta shale formation.
Why it matters: This signals a major shift in data centre geography, with hyperscalers looking beyond traditional markets to Latin America for energy and cooling advantages.
Key stat: US$25 billion — one of the largest single data centre investments ever announced.
Source: The Globe and Mail (ottawa/quebec Edition), 2026-09-08
Next step: Watch for regulatory approvals in Argentina's Neuquen province and further partnerships between tech firms and local energy providers.
2. Telus Cuts Dividend 55 Percent, Eyes Data Centre Expansion
Business in Vancouver reports that new Telus Corp. CEO Victor Dodig cut the company's dividend by 55 percent on July 31, causing shares to briefly trade as low as $12.93. The B.C.-based telecommunications firm faces negative earnings growth and nearly $28.94 billion in net debt while planning to spend about $1 billion building data centres in British Columbia.
New Telus Corp. CEO Victor Dodig cut the company's dividend by 55 percent on July 31, sending shares briefly as low as $12.93. The B.C.-based telecommunications firm faces negative earnings growth and nearly $28.94 billion in net debt, yet plans to spend about $1 billion building data centres in British Columbia.
Why it matters: The dividend cut frees capital for infrastructure investment, positioning Telus as a significant player in Canada's data centre buildout despite near-term financial pressure.
Key stat: C$1 billion planned data centre investment in British Columbia.
Source: Business in Vancouver, 2026-09-08, by Glen Korstrom
Next step: Monitor Telus's quarterly capex reports and any partnerships with cloud providers for colocation and hyperscale deployments.
3. Pimco's C$19B Fund Shifts to Asia, Betting on AI Supply Chain
Financial Post Magazine reports that Pimco's flagship 60/40 Balanced Income and Growth Fund, with assets of about C$19 billion, is shifting its focus to Asian AI supply‑chain stocks, including equipment suppliers, financials and healthcare, as its manager Emmanuel Sharef sees better value outside crowded U.S. tech giants. Sharef, who oversees the fund, notes that high AI spending is driving debt and valuation concerns in U.S. hyperscalers, prompting the fund to overweight Asia and biotech while underweighting major U.S. tech firms.
Pimco's flagship 60/40 Balanced Income and Growth Fund, with assets of about C$19 billion, is shifting its focus to Asian AI supply-chain stocks, including equipment suppliers, financials, and healthcare. Manager Emmanuel Sharef sees better value outside crowded U.S. tech giants, noting that high AI spending is driving debt and valuation concerns in U.S. hyperscalers.
Why it matters: Capital flows are redirecting from U.S. hyperscalers toward Asian AI infrastructure, including data centre equipment and supply chain — a signal for investors and operators alike.
Key stat: C$19 billion in fund assets being repositioned toward Asia and biotech.
Source: Financial Post Magazine, 2026-09-08, by Winnie Hsu and RutH Carson
Next step: Track which Asian data centre equipment suppliers benefit from this capital reallocation and whether U.S. hyperscalers adjust their strategies.
According to Press Monitor's tracking of Canadian publications, these three stories define the data centre landscape for the week ahead. What is your read on the shift toward non-U.S. data infrastructure? Share your perspective in the comments.
