Four groups bid for Chile-Antarctica cable feasibility study

Chilean telecoms regulator Subtel received four bids for a study that will evaluate the feasibility of implementing the first submarine fiber cable connecting Chile to Antarctica.

The groups that submitted offers were: Consorcio Raylex-AMBEC, Consorcio TMG/WFN, Consorcio Salience/Pioneer, and global consultancy Deloitte.

The proposals were opened on November 25. Subtel will now carry out the technical review of each of them to award the study, which is expected to take place by January 8.

Based in Chile, Ambec is a legal and environmental consulting firm focused on providing strategic advice, environmental assessment, management of sectoral permits and regulatory affairs.

Chilean telecoms expert Raylex was founded 55 years ago and is focused on the development and deployment of telecoms networks in the country.

WFN is a consultancy specialized on planning and implementation of submarine cable systems, while Telecommunications Management Group (TMG) provides consulting for the broader ICT market. 

Both firms are US-based and in 2019 had been jointly awarded a tender for the economic, technical and legal feasibility study of Chile’s Transpacific cable, later rebranded to Humboldt.

Salience is a United Arab Emirates management advisory firm specialized in telecoms business strategies, technology and innovation. The company was one of the bidders for the 2019 Transpacific cable study project.

Headquartered in New Jersey, Pioneer Consulting specializes in telecommunications infrastructure development, with a focus on subsea fiber optic cables.

The project

Chile announced the project to connect Chilean Antarctica with the rest of the country on September 25. 

The goal is to enhance scientific research, and improve dialogue and cooperation with other countries on the Antarctic continent. At present, Antarctica relies online on satellite connectivity solutions.

Among the aspects that must be addressed in the study are the establishment of the exact optimal route for the cable and the technical solution to comply with applicable environmental regulations.

A detailed risk analysis of the project must be performed, as well as of its possible negative and positive impacts, in addition to the establishment of recommendations and mitigation measures.

The cable would run approximately 1,000km from Puerto Williams on the Beagle Channel to Antarctica's King George Island, taking advantage of Chile's existing fiber infrastructure in Puerto Williams via the Fibra Óptica Austral (FOA).

The study will be funded by CAF.

CAF is also supporting the Humboldt project and Chile's Brecha Cero 2022-25 plan to connect unserved and underserved areas in the country.