Google has signed an agreement with the Chilean government to establish an undersea data cable connecting South America with Asia and Oceania. The cable, named the “Humboldt Cable,” will stretch 14,800 kilometers across the South Pacific Ocean, marking the first direct connection of its kind. The project aims to begin operations in 2027.
The Humboldt Cable will connect Valparaiso in Chile to Sydney in Australia, passing through French Polynesia. Previously, data from South America to Asia largely traveled through North America. Upon completion, this cable will shorten the data transmission route between South America and Asia-Oceania, reducing latency and increasing data autonomy in the region.
Google proposed this project in 2016, starting feasibility analyses in 2018. The project is now advancing, nearly a decade later. While the total budget remains undisclosed, the Chilean government plans to invest approximately 25 million USD (about 34 billion KRW), with the total project cost estimated between 300 to 550 million USD (about 410 to 760 billion KRW).
In addition to Google, Chile’s state-owned infrastructure company, Desarrollo País, along with partners from Australia and French Polynesia, are participating. Google, already operating Latin America’s largest data center in Chile, views this project as a stepping stone for Chile to become a digital hub in South America.
The Humboldt Cable will be designed as open infrastructure, accessible not only to Google but also to local telecom companies, financial institutions, and tech enterprises. Cristian Ramos, Google’s Head of Latin American Communications Infrastructure, emphasized that the cable is meant for broad cooperative use rather than sole ownership by Google.
As undersea cables handle over 99% of global data communications, this project is significant in eliminating connectivity blind spots in the South Pacific, a region historically lacking direct intercontinental links.
French Polynesia serves as a strategic waypoint in this project, with plans to strengthen connections with existing cables centered on Tahiti. Future endeavors might include additional routes connecting to Singapore and Los Angeles.
Beyond building technological infrastructure, the project is poised to elevate Chile’s international standing and diplomatic influence. Alberto van Klaveren, Chile’s Foreign Minister, remarked, “This cable will position Chile as a digital gateway linking South America with Asia and Oceania, contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth.”
However, some express concern that intensifying Sino-American technological rivalry could embroil Chile in geopolitical conflicts. Despite typically being led by private companies, undersea cables are also sensitive infrastructures entangled with national information sovereignty and security.
The next steps for the Humboldt Cable involve actual installation tasks, selecting telecommunication operators, and constructing landing stations. The Chilean government and Google anticipate projecting operations to commence in 2027, as planned.