Feasibility Study Confirms Undersea Cable to Antarctica is Viable

Antarctic Connectivity Study Completed

A feasibility study, conducted by Salience Consulting and Pioneer Consulting for Chile's telecom regulator Subtel, has determined that an undersea fiber-optic cable across the Drake Passage to Antarctica is technically viable. The study, financed by development bank CAF with support from the China-initiated MCDF Finance Facility, recommends an instrumented cable with a dedicated fiber pair for each Antarctic landing.

Addressing Data Transfer Challenges

Currently, Antarctic research data is transferred via satellite links or physically transported on hard drives by ship and plane. The proposed fiber-optic cable aims to replace these methods, providing high-speed internet access to research bases. The study considered configurations ranging from a minimum of three facility groups around King George Island to an optimal nine-landing version, which would connect bases operated by Chile, Argentina, Brazil, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Project Scope and Cost Estimates

The minimum build for the cable project is estimated to cost around $370 million, while the optimal nine-landing configuration is projected at approximately $620 million. The cable would be routed from Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams in southern Chile across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic landings.

Unique Engineering Challenges and Features

The project faces specific challenges due to the Drake Passage's weather and ice scour at Antarctic landing sites. The design incorporates horizontal directional drilling at landfalls and double-armored cable to mitigate ice scour at depths up to 340 meters. Installation is planned over three austral summers within the December-to-January weather window. Additionally, the cable will embed SMART sensors to monitor ocean-bottom temperature, pressure, and seismic acceleration for climate and tsunami research.

Supplier Engagement

Subtel's request for information for the project was sent to several international firms, including Alcatel Submarine Networks (France), NEC (Japan), SubCom (U.S.), Xtera (UK), and two Chinese companies, HMN Technologies and FibreHome. HMN Technologies is the former Huawei Marine Networks, which was sold to Hengtong after U.S. sanctions.