Antarctica could get fiber-optic link via Drake Passage, study says
A feasibility study concluded that a fiber-optic cable across the Drake Passage is technically viable, potentially connecting Antarctic research bases to global networks. The project, estimated at $370 million to $620 million, would also embed sensors for ocean-bottom monitoring. Currently, research data is physically transported on hard drives by ship and plane.
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The study outlines two build options: a minimal setup serving three research clusters near King George Island and the northern peninsula, and a fuller nine-landing network connecting bases run by Chile, Argentina, Brazil, the US, and the UK.
Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
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Original headline: “Undersea cable to Antarctica through Drake Passage is viable, researchers find — 1,600km route to Chile could spell an end to research data leaving in 'suitcases full of hard drives'.” Browse more stories.