Scientists still take Antarctic data out in 'suitcases full of hard drives'. Chile now plans a 4,100-km undersea cable to change that

In the age of the internet and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Antarctica is the last remaining continent where data still needs to be physically moved in hard drives.

But that is set to change, as a new study conducted by Chile found that the technology needed to connect the continent to the global internet network is already available.

The study found that an undersea cable from Chile's Magallanes region across the Drake Passage could eventually connect research stations operated by several countries in Antarctica. The project is being led by Chile's telecommunications regulator, Subtel, and is aimed primarily at improving scientific research and data sharing.


The feasibility study, finalized last week, assessed 55 Antarctic facilities and examined two possible cable configurations. The study was financed by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) and the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF).

A cable could change how Antarctic research works

Research in Antarctica currently relies heavily on satellites to move data off the continent. Juan Pablo, a team leader in the pre-feasibility study, reportedly said that Antarctic research data still leaves the continent physically, on hard drives ferried out by ship and plane "in suitcases full of hard drives."

A subsea fiber connection would allow researchers to transmit information in real time rather than waiting for data to leave the continent.

The cable could also do more than carry internet traffic. The study proposes embedding SMART sensors along the seabed to measure temperature, pressure and seismic activity.

That would turn the cable itself into a scientific instrument, potentially providing continuous measurements from the ocean floor around the Drake Passage.

Two routes are being considered

According to The Maritime Executive, the first option is a base configuration costing an estimated $370 million. It would cover about 1,600 kilometers and connect Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams in Chile with three Chilean Antarctic facilities.

The larger option would cost about $620 million and extend for roughly 4,100 kilometers. It would include nine Antarctic landing points and could connect research bases operated by five countries, including Chile, Argentina, Brazil, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Each Antarctic landing point could receive a dedicated fiber pair with a capacity of between 15 and 30 Tbit/s.

Building the cable would be difficult

The study found that the technology itself is not the main obstacle. The bigger challenges involve financing, international agreements and construction in one of the world's harshest environments.

The Drake Passage is known for difficult weather conditions, while icebergs can scrape the seabed near Antarctic landing sites. The study recommends measures including double-armored cable and horizontal directional drilling to protect the cable where it reaches land.

Installation would also be limited to the short Antarctic summer. The study envisages work taking place across three austral summer seasons, when weather conditions are more suitable.

The study also identifies geopolitics as a major project risk. Its financing includes the MCDF, a Beijing-based development finance mechanism, while Western governments have raised security concerns about Chinese involvement in subsea communications infrastructure.

To address some of these concerns, the study recommends a "neutrality by design" approach, including dark fiber and user-controlled transmission equipment.

The project would also require cooperation from other Antarctic countries whose research stations could be connected to the network.

The cable could take eight years

The feasibility study has now been submitted to Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is expected to be considered by the country's Antarctic Policy Council.

If Chile decides to move ahead, it will need to negotiate with other Antarctic states and secure financing before construction contracts can be signed.

The entire process, including international agreements and financing, is estimated to take around eight years.

For now, the project remains a proposal rather than a construction commitment. But the feasibility study has answered one important question: a fiber-optic connection to Antarctica is technically possible.