Segunda FOS Canal de Chacao

Overview

The Segunda FOS Canal de Chacao is a submarine cable system located in southern Chile. Spanning a total length of 40 kilometers, it was officially ready for service in 2015. This cable provides a critical link across the Chacao Channel, connecting two key landing points on the Chilean mainland and the island of Chiloé. As a domestic system, it plays a vital role in enhancing regional telecommunications infrastructure, supporting internet access, enterprise connectivity, and other digital services. Its relatively short length reflects its role as a localized connection rather than a transoceanic system.

The cable is owned and operated by Grupo Gtd, a prominent telecommunications provider in Chile. Through the Segunda FOS Canal de Chacao, Grupo Gtd contributes to the broader goal of strengthening national connectivity, particularly in regions where physical barriers like water bodies have historically presented challenges for infrastructure development.

Route and Landings

The Segunda FOS Canal de Chacao connects two landing points: Linao, located on the mainland of southern Chile, and Meimen, situated on the northern coast of Chiloé Island. The Chacao Channel, which the cable crosses, is a narrow and strategically significant waterway separating Chiloé Island from the mainland. The channel is known for its strong tidal currents and dynamic marine environment, making the deployment of submarine cables in this area a technically demanding process.

Linao serves as the mainland landing point and is part of the Los Lagos Region, an area known for its economic activities in agriculture, aquaculture, and tourism. Meimen, on the other hand, is located on Chiloé Island, a culturally and historically significant region of Chile. By linking these two points, the cable enhances connectivity for the island's residents and businesses, bridging a critical gap in the local telecommunications network. This connection supports not only basic internet and voice services but also the growing demand for high-speed data transmission in the region.

Ownership and History

The Segunda FOS Canal de Chacao is owned and operated by Grupo Gtd, a leading telecommunications company in Chile. Grupo Gtd provides a wide range of services, including fixed and mobile communications, internet access, and enterprise solutions. The company’s investment in this cable underscores its commitment to improving connectivity in underserved and geographically challenging areas of the country.

The cable became operational in 2015, marking an important milestone in Chile’s efforts to modernize its telecommunications infrastructure. Its deployment reflects a broader trend of investment in domestic submarine cable systems aimed at addressing the unique geographical challenges posed by Chile’s extensive coastline and numerous islands. By providing a reliable and high-capacity link across the Chacao Channel, the Segunda FOS Canal de Chacao has become a key component of the region's digital backbone.

What Our Measurements Show

Our live monitoring of the Segunda FOS Canal de Chacao reveals performance metrics across three measured corridors. The best round-trip time (RTT) recorded is 228 milliseconds, while the average RTT is 275 milliseconds. These measurements provide insight into the cable's latency and overall performance, which are critical factors for applications requiring real-time data exchange, such as video conferencing and cloud-based services.

The RTT values suggest that while the cable performs well for its intended purpose as a regional link, its latency is influenced by factors such as routing and the quality of the terrestrial networks it connects to. Nonetheless, the Segunda FOS Canal de Chacao remains an integral part of Chile’s telecommunications infrastructure, supporting both local and regional connectivity needs. Its role in linking Linao and Meimen contributes to the broader goal of ensuring robust and reliable communication across the country.