Chile to build cross-border fiber connection with Humboldt cable

Chile is looking to create a terrestrial fiber backbone to connect the future landing point of the Humboldt submarine cable and fiber networks on the border with Argentina, potentially also reaching Brazil.

This broad data transport corridor is the main objective of a request for proposals launched by state infrastructure fund Desarrollo País.

Proposals may be submitted on January 9 and 10. The call is aimed at potential co-investors for the Paso Pehuenche project.

The Pehuenche border crossing is in Talca province, Maule region, near Argentina’s Mendoza.

From there, it would interconnect with other fiber networks, eventually reaching Brazil.

One objective is to “connect Chile with Argentina and/or Brazil along a new route to strengthen terrestrial data traffic corridors in Latin America.”

The agency also said it aims to expand and diversify connectivity between Chile and Argentina beyond existing routes in the metropolitan region, with the Pehuenche border complex being one of these new points.

Chile is seeking to provide Humboldt with necessary terrestrial data offload in South America through a land system with high availability “in order to continue strengthening new data transport routes through the southern hemisphere.”

Proposals can be sent to digital@desarrollopais.cl. Further information can be found here.