The First Direct Underwater Internet Cable Linking South America and Australia
The world is set to witness the implementation of the first underwater Internet cable that will connect South America with Australia. The Humboldt cable laying project is a joint venture between the Chilean state infrastructure fund Desarrollo Pais, the Office of Posts and Telecommunications of French Polynesia, and Google. The ambitious project is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
Spanning 14,800 kilometers, the underwater cable will stretch across the Asia-Pacific region, connecting Chile to Australia with a stop in French Polynesia. The cable will play a crucial role in linking alternative routes of the South Pacific Connect initiative, providing enhanced connectivity in the region.
The groundwork for this project was laid back in 2016 when Chile initially expressed the need for a communication line. In August 2022, Desarrollo Pais and the BW Digital – H2 Cable division sought proposals for the construction of a cable from Valparaiso, Chile to Sydney, Australia, with potential branches to the Chilean archipelago of Juan Fernandez, Easter Island, New Zealand, and even Antarctica. The estimated cost of the project stands at $400 million, with the United States planning to allocate $15 million to support the initiative.
Once completed, the Humboldt cable will join the ranks of existing underwater cables such as the Southern Cross Next project, Hawaiki Nui, and the Curie cable, which connects California with Chile. These cables have played a significant role in elevating global connectivity, and the Humboldt cable is poised to further bolster the digital infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
The implications of this project are far-reaching, with the potential to provide fast and secure access to several island countries in the Pacific Ocean. As the world eagerly anticipates the completion of the Humboldt cable, it is a testament to the continued advancement of technology and infrastructure on a global scale.
Photo: servernews.ru
