Chile Studies Two Antarctica Subsea Cable Routes

Nicolás Larocca, DPL News
August 18, 2026

A pre-feasibility study commissioned by Chile's Undersecretariat of Telecommunications has concluded that a fiber-optic cable from southern Chile to Antarctica is technically viable. The assessment identifies two deployment options that differ in route length, number of Antarctic landings and estimated cost.

The first option would run roughly 1,600 kilometers from Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams to three points on the Antarctic Peninsula. Its estimated investment is US$370 million. The broader option would extend about 4,100 kilometers and reach nine Antarctic locations, adding bases operated by the United States, United Kingdom, Argentina and Brazil. That plan is estimated at US$621 million.

Telecommunications Undersecretary Romina Garrido said Chile could begin with the shorter version and expand it later. She also stressed that Chile would not finance either configuration alone because Antarctic territory is multinational and the project would require international participation.

The completed report has been sent to Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Desarrollo País and the ministry are expected to help identify partner countries, while the Antarctic Policy Council is due to consider the findings in November before deciding whether Chile should lead international coordination.

The study estimates that delivering the project could take around eight years, reflecting the route's geographic complexity and the need for cross-border cooperation. The decision now moves from feasibility work toward government review and international partner outreach; the published update does not describe an approved construction schedule.

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