The United States delivers a decisive blow: This is the submarine cable that could shift the global balance

The United States has taken a major step in the race to control global digital infrastructure by giving decisive momentum to the Humboldt subsea cable, an ambitious project that will connect South America with Oceania. The initiative places Chile at the center of a growing strategic competition with China over control of international communications.

The project calls for the installation of a 9,196-mile fiber-optic cable linking Valparaíso and Sydney, establishing a new digital route across the South Pacific. This infrastructure will not only improve connectivity between continents, but also strengthen Chile’s role as a technological hub in the region.

At a time when subsea cables carry roughly 99% of global data traffic, while only about 1% moves via satellite, projects like this have become increasingly important. There are currently hundreds of active cables around the world, and Latin America is emerging as an increasingly important arena in the global technology race.

China’s competition

Momentum behind the Humboldt cable comes amid tensions between Washington and Beijing over control of these strategic networks. While the U.S.-backed project moves forward, the China-backed alternative, the Chile-China Express, which was intended to connect Chile with Hong Kong, is losing traction in the current political climate.

The Chilean government has shown a preference for the initiative tied to U.S. capital, reinforcing its alignment with that strategy. The infrastructure will be developed through a joint venture between the Chilean state and the technology company Google, which will oversee both its construction and its future operation.

The cable will have a high data transmission capacity and is expected to begin operations in 2028, with a service life projected to last several decades.

Strategic and technological impact

Control over data routes has become a central element of the global balance of power. Beyond connectivity, this infrastructure influences national security, the digital economy, and countries’ technological sovereignty.

The Chinese alternative, led by China Mobile, proposed a longer connection between South America and Asia. However, political tensions and international pressure have cast doubt on its viability.

The progress of the Humboldt cable strengthens the U.S. presence in a strategically important region and highlights how technological competition is now extending to the ocean floor as well.

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