Google, Chile partner on $500 submarine cable to bridge continents

Google has signed a landmark agreement with the Chilean government to deploy a trans-Pacific undersea fibre optic cable that will link South America to Asia and Oceania, marking the first such connection across the South Pacific. 

Named the Humboldt Cable, the 14,800-kilometre (9,200-mile) submarine data line will stretch from the Chilean port city of Valparaíso to Sydney, Australia, with an intermediary stop in French Polynesia, Caliber.Az reports, referring to US media.

The project is scheduled for deployment in 2027.

First proposed in 2016, the initiative has taken nearly a decade to materialise, with feasibility studies commencing six years ago. Speaking to the press, Chilean Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz emphasised the cable’s historic significance: “This is the first submarine cable in the South Pacific, so it's an important commitment.”

Chile, which already houses one of Google’s largest data centres in Latin America, is currently connected to the US and other regional networks via existing undersea cables. However, those links also mean longer routes to reach other continents. The Humboldt Cable is expected to provide a more direct and efficient pathway to Asia-Pacific markets.

Officials from both sides praised the project as vital digital infrastructure that could unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in investment. Sectors such as technology, mining, and banking in both Chile and Australia stand to benefit.

“This cable is not just for Google,” said Cristian Ramos, Google's parent company Alphabet’s Director of Telecommunications Infrastructure for Latin America. “It’s designed to be used by other companies too, including tech firms operating in Chile.”

While Google did not reveal its full investment, Patricio Rey, General Manager of Desarrollo País — a Chilean state-owned infrastructure firm partnering on the project — estimated the total value at between $300 million and $550 million, with Chile contributing $25 million.

The Humboldt Cable will position Chile as a digital gateway between Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, while also deepening ties with Asian countries, notably China, Chile’s top trading partner. The project arrives amid rising global demand for undersea cables driven by increasing dependence on cloud-based services.

Next steps include installing the submarine line, choosing and contracting a telecom operator, and building landing stations on Chilean territory.

However, the geopolitical dimension of the cable is significant. As tensions escalate between China and the Trump administration, infrastructure like undersea cables is increasingly viewed through a strategic lens. Chile’s role in this project may place it squarely in the midst of this ongoing global rivalry.

By Tamilla Hasanova