Spotlight: The plans of Argentina's provinces to improve connectivity

In recent months, various Argentine provinces have advanced with plans to deploy fiber optics and improve connectivity. These works are taking place in parallel with Plan Conectar, a federal program that includes the expansion of state satellite company Arsat's national fiber optic network (Refefo).

At the end of June, Arsat announced that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will finance the expansion of Refefo, a project that has an estimated total cost of US$100mn.

The program includes the construction of 4,408km of fiber optics and accesses to connect 258 towns in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, La Pampa, Mendoza, Neuquén, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Tierra del Fuego and Tucumán. Refefo currently has a 34,500km backbone network.

In Argentina, there are state-owned provincial companies that are responsible for fiber optic deployment projects and the provision of connectivity services, and they have advanced at different rates. In some provinces, such as Catamarca, progress is only just being made to create the project.

BNamericas reviews the most important and most recent announcements of fiber optic deployment plans in the country.

Buenos Aires province

The province is working to deploy the metropolitan fiber optic network in capital La Plata. The network will connect more than 400 provincial government buildings.

The central ring of the network is 40km long. In the first phase, 13km of fiber will be illuminated and the seat of the provincial government and a central network node will be connected. The second phase, covering 8km, will connect 39 other government agencies. Finally, a third phase of the project comprises 63km to connect the remaining buildings.

The province is also making progress on signing agreements with railway infrastructure administration ADIF to use the ducts on the Constitución-La Plata section of the Roca line to lay fiber.

Córdoba

In April, authorities in Córdoba province awarded a temporary consortium (UTE) between Acertis, Vectus and Estructuras (Ave) the contract to illuminate the first stage of the 2,391km fiber optic network deployed in the province.

This first stage includes the acquisition, installation and configuration of the network and laying of fiber in 96 towns and cities. This will involve connecting 600 public agencies.

The line is also expected to be extended to schools, along with the placement of additional nodes. Alcatel technology will be used to illuminate the network.

Ave made a bid of 587mn pesos (US$6.11mn) for the contract, which was within the budget assigned by the province.

The province has also announced the creation of a connectivity agency to manage fiber optics.

La Rioja

In June, La Rioja launched its provincial online connectivity plan for 2021-2023, with the aim of renewing and expanding transmission technologies and installing 643 free public Wi-Fi points.

The plan also involves a school connectivity plan and delivery of computers to primary school students in the province.

Recently, state-owned company Internet para Todos (La Rioja Telecomunicaciones SAPEM) announced the connection of 61 rural towns.

Río Negro

Agency RN Innova and Rio Negro company Altec, along with the federal interior ministry and the provincial unit for coordination and execution of external financing (UPCEFE), presented a multi-service fiber optic connectivity network infrastructure project with the aim of connecting areas that lack internet access or which have poor coverage.

The plan is to build a 210km stretch of fiber optics covering 14 areas between Choele Choel and General Roca through a non-reimbursable contribution from the IDB for 433mn pesos.

The network will benefit nearly 150,000 people and will connect 380 public organizations, 190 publicly-run schools and 40 health centers, among others. It will also allow greater connectivity in residential neighborhoods and add 4G coverage.

San Juan

In April, a 700mn-peso agreement was announced through the federal trust for regional infrastructure (FFFIR) to improve digital connectivity. The funds will allow the construction of almost 900km of fiber optics in the province and bring connectivity to four departments on the border with Chile.

The agreement outlines boosting the growth of private operators for customer service and also seeks to integrate existing public and private networks, and connect schools, health centers and provincial authorities.

On June 22, bids were opened to connect the departments of Calingasta, Iglesia, Jáchal, Valle Fértil, Ullum, Zonda and Capital. Twelve proposals were received, including offers from Silica Networks and Tecnored, according to local media.

In order to meet these goals, the province will create a provincial technology company. The project is being studied by the lower house of the provincial congress.

Santa Fe

Regional development bank CAF will invest US$100mn in the Santa Fe+Conectada program, the objective of which is to deploy almost 3,400km of fiber optics to provide internet connectivity to about 150,000 residents in the province.

Within the framework of this program, the province has opened a tender for urban Wi-Fi services for residential neighborhoods in the cities of Santa Fe and Rosario. Offers have been opened from seven bidders, including Tecnored, Trans and Silica Networks.