An upgrade from the arrival of 2G in 2005, Entel announced the arrival of 5G connectivity in Villa Las Estrellas, located on King George Island within the Chilean Antarctic Territory.
“Bringing 5G to Antarctica was an enormous challenge, especially in technical terms, and we are very proud to be able to affirm that we were pioneers in the world in delivering a public 5G network for our customers, especially in these times where connectivity and communication contribute tremendously to the quality of life of people, mainly in such geographically isolated places,” explained CEO Antonio Büchi Buc.
5G now benefits the 191 inhabitants of Villa Las Estrellas. Buc highlighted that this initiative is in line with the company’s DNA to be present in remote or isolated locations in the country. “Our purpose is to bring the infinite possibilities that technology gives to all Chileans and we are fulfilling it,” he added.
Moreover, the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Juan Carlos Muñoz stressed the importance of extending connectivity throughout the territory and for everyone to have better connectivity for their daily work and research.
Maintaining a closer bond, “The inhabitants of Villa Las Estrellas told us how different it is for them now to be able to have a video conference, to be able to do homework with their children who are on the continent,” mentioned the minister.
The advent of 5G connectivity brings with it the introduction of digital television, offering people significantly improved television quality and a wider array of channels to choose from.
Meanwhile, Telecommunications Undersecretary Claudio Araya San Martín expressed, “The deployment of this [5G] technology brings Chileans who make their homeland in Antarctica closer to their families and friends and once again positions Chile as a leader in the deployment of telecommunications technologies.”
In addition to the new 5G coverage, the company also modernized with 3G and 4G, with a USD 345,000 worth of investment. Within a few weeks of testing, Buc revealed that the antenna traffic surged by 28%, when compared to an average network antenna.
Nevertheless, the network browsing experience within Antarctica may be less stable since it is connected via satellite than fiber optics (internet).