A USD 1.68 million grant to support the preparation of a new Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) project that would bring the first submarine cable to Antarctica and promote scientific progress was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governance Committee during its meeting in New Administrative Capital, Egypt on 21 September.

The MCDF grant will finance a feasibility study of a submarine fiber optic cable to provide digital connectivity to Antarctica, the site of many international research bases, from a landing station in Chile. MCDF’s underlying investment aims to deploy the cable, which would enable high-capacity and reliable communications in Antarctica and allow experts to operate there without relying on satellite connectivity that is vulnerable to extreme weather and suffers from limited bandwidth.

This breakthrough would facilitate scientific discovery in fields such as climate science, glaciology, biology, and geology. It would also promote broader international collaboration and the safety and well-being of people working in Antarctica’s challenging environment.

“As we embark on the groundbreaking project to deploy the first submarine fiber optic cable between Chile and Antarctica, we are setting a new standard for connectivity,” said Gabriel Felpeto, CAF’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance. “This endeavor promises to deliver not only higher standards of quality but also unparalleled continuity of service.”

“The value of this initiative lies in its ability to establish high-speed digital connections to the existing bases in Antarctica, spanning more than 30 countries and fostering global cooperation on scientific and global climate issues,” Felpeto added.

The feasibility study financed by the MCDF grant will cover technical, legal, economic, financial, environmental, social, governance, and geopolitical issues, providing insights on the most appropriate project implementation model.

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