Chile and Google will build the first submarine fiber optic cable that unites three continents

The Chilean Government and the company Google announced on Thursday the construction of the first submarine fiber optic cable between South America, Asia and Oceania, called ‘Project Humboldt’, and will allow a greater digital connection between these regions.

The cable, which will link the Chilean city of Valparaíso to the Australian city of Sydney, will have a length of 14,800 kilometers and a capacity of 144 terabytes per second. Its useful life is 25 years.

“After years of work and alliances, we have signed an agreement with the Google company to build the Humboldt cable, which will be the first submarine fiber optic cable that will directly connect South America with Oceania and Asia.“said President Gabriel Boric when presenting the initiative to the press.

This cable “consolidates the position of Chili as the center of digital activity in South America, which will open opportunities for new industries, jobs and better working and living conditions for thousands of people“added the Chilean president.

Karan BhatiaGlobal Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Googleadded that the cable will help “forge a physical connection with Asia, (and) it is going to be a 21st century trade route”.

The project will have an initial investment of US$55 million.

Construction will begin in 2025 and will be ready a year later.

The US State Department welcomed the initiative and assured that it will accelerate “digital connectivity and the integration of South America and Pacific island countries into the global economy”.

The project will be named in honor of the German Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859)a prominent geographer and astronomer whose surname also gives name to the Humboldt Current that runs along the Chilean and Peruvian coasts.