Desarrollo País (Ministry of National Development), Deputy Minister of Telecommunications (Subtel) and Magallanes Regional Government will develop the first Antarctic submarine cable.
Specifically, the agreement will deploy a submarine fiber optic cable to connect Antarctica with the rest of the world through Chile, and include a market consultation process for preparing technical, legal, economic, and financial feasibility studies.
Patricio Rey, General Manager of the National Development Department, said: “This milestone is the beginning of a long journey to provide Antarctica with a global high-speed network connection.”
"This kind of infrastructure can bring the white continent closer to the world and allow real-time sharing of scientific information with research centers on Earth."
"The signing of this agreement reaffirms Chile's historic commitment to Antarctica. The launch of the first submarine optical cable research is a step in reaffirming our leadership on the African continent and our efforts to put scientific interests and the progress of all mankind at the center." Chilean Minister Gloria Hutt (Gloria Hutt) said. Transport and telecommunications.
"As a government, we are determined to implement this huge project, and in this way, make strategic contributions to addressing the concerns of the international community and expanding the development of scientific cooperation."
The agreement was signed by Francisco Moreno, Deputy Minister of Telecommunications; Jorge Flies, Governor of Magallanes; and Patricio Rey, General Manager of the National Development Department of Punta Arenas.
The potential cable route from Puerto Rico Williams City to Antarctica is approximately 1,000 kilometers away. Due to the short distance, it has an automatic delay advantage over other continents.
Francisco Moreno, Deputy Minister of Telecommunications, said: “Although Antarctica is a continent based on scientific research, there are huge limitations in Antarctica today due to insufficient digital connections.”
"Through this project, and due to the deployment of Austral Fiber Optic (FOA) in Magallanes and Tierra del Fuego, we are eager to obtain a large amount of scientific information from the multiple and transcendental investigations conducted on this continent. "For example, climate change and biological evolution, etc., Spread from Antarctica to the rest of the world through the Chilean telecommunications network. We are taking the first step in creating an Antarctic digital hub and consolidating Chile’s position as a digital hub in the region. "
Other benefits of deploying the Antarctic submarine cable are that the landing station in Puerto Williams provides facilities that are closest to the continent and enables the deployment of fiber optic cable systems in the Southern Ocean.
In addition, as part of the Austral Fiber Optic plan, cables were installed in Tierra del Fuego. This system has comparative advantages in terms of cost and established an interconnection network connecting the mainland and the rest of the world through a wide range of networks. Chile.
"For Magellan and the Chilean Antarctic regional government, the historical feature of a region has always been isolated, and the possibility of connecting to the world through optical fiber is a basic element of the 21st century," said Magellan Governor Jorge Flies. .
"This fact has been achieved through Austral Fiber Optic, but a part of Magallanes is located in the South Pole of Chile. This is an extension of the country's territory and an extension of the sovereignty of science and technology in the 21st century. The Antarctic fiber of Austral Fiber Optic will not only have a huge impact on the Magellan region, It will also have a major impact on the history of Chile and the international agreements of the Antarctic Treaty."
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