China and Chile will build the first submarine optical cable directly connecting Asia and Latin America

China and Chile will build the first submarine optical cable directly connecting Asia and Latin America

China and Chile are discussing the construction of the first submarine optical cable directly connecting Asia and Latin America.

Pedro Vicharaf, Deputy Minister of Communications of Chile, also hopes to attract Chinese companies to participate in bidding for large-scale communications infrastructure projects in Chile.

Vicha Raf recently led a delegation to visit China. During his trip, he brought some Chilean entrepreneurs with him, hoping to promote cooperation between enterprises in the two countries in the field of information technology.

Chile plans to promote the southern optical cable project and plans to build 4 optical fiber backbone networks covering southern Chile, including 1 submarine cable and 3 regional terrestrial cables, with a total length of more than 3,000 kilometers.

The Chilean government plans to invest US$100 million and will conduct a global public bidding for the project in April this year.

Vicharav said that the Chilean government welcomes Chinese companies to participate in the bidding.

Previously, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that it would implement the “Belt and Road” strategy in 2016, support basic telecommunications companies and Internet companies to increase efforts to develop international markets, and accelerate the layout and construction of international submarine and land cables, international entrances and exits, and overseas POP points.

Industry insiders said that promoting the construction of communication networks such as international submarine and land cables is an important means to improve the level of international communication interconnection.

Submarine optical cables transmit about 100% of the entire international network traffic. They are the main carrier of global information communications and a new high-profit growth point for my country's optical fiber companies. Submarine optical cable companies are expected to be the first to benefit.