News Alert: Chile and Australia to be connected with undersea fibre optic cable

Written by Ian Cardenas, Paralegal

Google announces Humboldt, a joint project with the government of Chile, the submarine cable route will connect Chile, French Polynesia and Australia, with a direct fibre optic network link between South America and the Asia-Pacific region.

The infrastructure, in which the Office of Posts and Telecommunications of French Polynesia (OPT) will also participate, will provide a direct fibre optic network link between South America and the Asia-Pacific region, and represents the materialisation of a project that has been the Chilean government’s ambition since 2016, with the aim of strengthening the country’s international connectivity networks.

 

Key details

The Humboldt Cable will connect the port of Valparaíso, Chile with Sydney, Australia, with a total length of nearly 14,800 kilometres. With this project, Chile is set to become the gateway for data from the Pacific to the entire South American continent, because data from Asia and Oceania will travel faster, with less latency (delay in network communication) and greater autonomy, enabling the development of high-tech tools such as remotely managed industrial systems.

 

The investment

Chile has already invested 55 million dollars, to which future investments will be added as the initiative progresses.

This cable consolidates Chile’s position as a center of digital activity in South America, which will open up opportunities for new industries, jobs and better working and living conditions for thousands of people”, said Chilean President Gabriel Boric.

This submarine network will generate high-tech tools, such as enabling industrial systems managed remotely from other countries, and will consolidate Chile’s leadership in research and development of artificial intelligence.”

On the other hand, Karan Bhatia, Google’s Global Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, said:

The Humboldt project is the latest testament to Google’s commitment to advancing Chile’s digital economy and maintaining its status as a leader in technology innovation in Latin America and the world.”

 

Significance of the project

This signifies important progress being made from a geopolitical perspective. It is expected that in the coming months the final contract will be signed allowing Chile and Google to start construction. They will subsequently share control of the fibres and commercialise its use with other companies and countries in the region, who are eagerly awaiting the project.

By improving international connectivity, submarine cables help drive economic growth in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and job creation. Analysys Mason estimates that the Curie submarine cable alone will cumulatively unlock more than $19 billion in GDP between 2020 and 2027, while supporting the creation of more than 67,000 jobs by 2027.

Conclusion

This project signifies a significant step forward in global connectivity. With the establishment of a direct fibre optic link between South America and the Asia-Pacific region, Chile is poised to become the Pacific gateway for data, fostering high-tech advancements and further positioning itself as a digital hub. The project’s economic implications, coupled with Google’s commitment, underscore its geopolitical significance for both regions. As this first-of-its-kind submarine connection promises enhanced international cooperation and economic growth, the Humboldt project symbolises a transformative step towards reinforcing the reliability and resilience of the Internet on a global scale, paving the way for unprecedented collaboration and innovation.

Harris Gomez Group METS Lawyers ® opened its doors in 1997 as an Australian legal and commercial firm. In 2001, we expanded our practice to the international market with the establishment of our office in Santiago, Chile. This international expansion meant that as an English speaking law firm we could provide an essential bridge for Australian companies with interests and activities in Latin America, and to provide legal advice in Chile, Peru and the rest of Latin America. In opening this office, HGG became the first Australian law firm with an office in Latin America.
As Legal and Commercial Advisors, we partner with innovative businesses in resources, technology and sustainability by providing strategy, legal and corporate services. Our goal is to see innovative businesses establish and thrive in Latin America and Australia. We are proud members of Austmine and the Australia Latin American Business Council.

 

 

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