Google and Chile announce construction of submarine cable that will connect South America, Asia and Oceania

Last Wednesday (11) the Chilean government signed a partnership with Google to build the first submarine fiber optic cable that will connect South America, Asia and Oceania.

The 14,800 kilometer long cable called “Project Humboldt” has an impressive capacity of 144 terabytes per second. It will connect Valparaíso in Chile to Sydney in Australia, also passing through Asia.

With an initial investment of US$55 million (approximately R$268 million). Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025, with completion scheduled the following year, with an expectation of extended operation for another 25 years.

Aim Optimized data transfer from Asia and OceaniaIt is characterized by a significant reduction in latency and greater autonomy, providing an environment conducive to the development of high-tech vehicles.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric emphasized that this project “strengthens Chile’s position as a hub of digital activity in South America, opening the door to new industries, jobs and better working and living conditions for thousands of people.”

Karan Bhatia, Google’s Global Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, emphasized the cable’s importance as a “physical connection to Asia and a 21st-century trade route.”

The United States stated that it recognizes this initiative through the Department of State. They emphasized that this would increase “the global economic integration of South American and Pacific island nations through progress in digital connectivity.”

Named after the famous German geographer and astronomer Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), the project also pays tribute to the Humboldt Current, which winds along the coasts of Chile and Peru.