Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported
the following:
チリ―豪の光海底ケーブル、日本案採用 脱・中国依存へ
経済 中南米
2020/7/29 1:31 (2020/7/29 5:25更新)
南米とアジア・オセアニアを結ぶ初の光海底ケーブルについて、計画を進めるチリ政府が日本の提案したルートを採用した。NECなど日本企業が受注する可能性が高まった。中国もチリと上海を結ぶルートを提案していた。米国が中国へのけん制を強めるなか、情報インフラ整備で脱・中国依存が進む可能性がある。
インターネットなど国際通信の95%は海底ケーブルを経由する。あらゆるモノがネットにつながるIoTや次世代通信規格5Gの普及で通信量の急拡大が見込まれる。海底ケーブルは大容量通信を支える基幹線で、拡充が課題になっている。
海底ケーブルを巡っては中継器やケーブルの陸揚げ拠点で通信データが監視される恐れを指摘する声もある。米司法省は6月、米国と香港を結ぶ海底ケーブルについて、米グーグルやフェイスブック、中国通信サービス大手が手掛ける計画に反対を表明した。
米司法省はデータを中国当局に収集されスパイ活動に使われる恐れがあると警戒している。華為技術（ファーウェイ）製品を排除する米トランプ政権はチリ政府の海底ケーブル計画でも中国企業の受注を避けるよう働きかけていた。
日本が提案したのはチリからニュージーランドを経由しオーストラリアのシドニーに達するルートで長さは約1万3千キロメートル。チリ政府はコストや実用性から「最も薦められるルート」とした。
日本と豪州を結ぶ別の海底ケーブルが7月に完成しており新ルートは日本とも接続しやすい。日本は豪州政府がファーウェイ製品を排除し中国に強硬姿勢をとっていることも考慮した。豪州とニュージーランドは環太平洋経済連携協定（TPP）でチリとも関係が深い。
中国は上海とチリを結ぶルートを提案していた。チリのピニェラ大統領が2019年4月に訪中した際には、ファーウェイがチリでのデータセンターの投資を約束するなど官民で受注に力を入れていた。
チリにとって中国は最大の輸出相手国で、海底ケーブルでも当初、ファーウェイは有力候補だった。一方、外交や貿易で米国の意向も無視できない。ポンペオ米国務長官はピニェラ氏の訪中直前にチリを訪問し「ファーウェイは中国政府にコントロールされており、国民をリスクにさらす」とくぎを刺していた。
チリのフット運輸・通信相は「太平洋で南米側のデジタルハブになる」とし、チリ政府は今秋にも技術調査の最終報告を公表する見通し。年末以降に実施主体となる特別目的事業体（SPV）を設立する。入札の実施は来年以降で、事業規模は初期投資で約600億円の見込み。
通信ケーブルや関連製品の受注は、提案が採用された日本が有利になる。日本政府は日本勢の受注が決まった場合、国際協力銀行（JBIC）や総務省管轄の海外通信・放送・郵便事業支援機構（JICT）によるSPVへの投融資などを検討する。
ファーウェイはもともと短距離が中心で、近年は南米とアフリカを結ぶ長距離を手がけるなど存在感を高めていた。19年6月には海底ケーブル事業を売却すると発表したが、売却しても別の中国通信大手が事業を継続するとみられる。（広瀬洋平、サンパウロ=外山尚之）
Translation
About the first optical submarine cable connecting South
America and Asia/Oceania, the Chilean government was advancing a plan that adopted
the route proposed by Japan. The possibility that Japanese companies such as
NEC could receive orders had increased. China also proposed a route connecting
Chile and Shanghai. As the United States strengthened its checking over China, in
improving its information infrastructure, there was a possibility that the US might
remove its dependence on China
95% of international communications such as the Internet
etc. went through submarine cables. The rapid increase in communication volume was
expected due to the spread of IoT and 5G, the next generation communication
standard that connected everything to the Internet. The expansion of submarine
cables, as the backbone lines that supported high-capacity communications, had
become an issue.
Centering around the submarine cable were about its repeaters and landing sites for cables, yet there were also voices pointing out that communication data might be monitored. In June, the U.S. Department of Justice objected to a plan undertaken by Google, Facebook, together with a major Chinese telecommunications service for submarine cables connecting the United States and Hong Kong.
The US Department of Justice warned that data might be collected by Chinese authorities and used for espionage. The Trump administration, which eliminated Huawei products, also worked to avoid orders from Chinese companies in Chile's submarine cable program.
Japan proposed a route from Chile through New Zealand to Sydney of Australia, with a length of about 13,000 kilometers. The Chilean government had made it the "most recommended route" because of its cost and practicality.
A submarine cable connecting Japan and Australia was completed in July, and the new route to connect to Japan would be easy. Japan had took into consideration of the Australian government's ban on Huawei products and its strong posture towards China. Australia and New Zealand had close ties with Chile in the Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP).
China proposed a route connecting Shanghai and Chile. When
Chile's President Pinella visited China in April 2019, Huawei promised to
invest in a data center in Chile, the public and private sectors were working
hard to get orders.
To Chile China was the largest export partner, and Huawei was initially a strong candidate for submarine cables. On the other hand, Chile could not ignore the intention of the United States in diplomacy and trade. US Secretary of State Pompeo visited Chile just before Mr. Pinella's visit to China, and stabbed a nail saying that, " you puts the population at risk, Huawei is under the control of the Chinese government."
Hutt the Minister of Transport and Communications of Chile predicted that Chile "will become the South American digital hub in the Pacific," and the Chilean government was expected to release the final report of the technical survey this fall. A special purpose body (SPV) would be established as the implementing body after the end of the year. Tendering could begin next year, and the initial scale of the project was expected to be about 60 billion yen.
Japan that had the proposal adopted, would have an advantage in receiving orders for communication cables and related products. When the orders for Japanese companies were decided, the Japanese government would consider investing into the SPV through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and also the Overseas Communications, Broadcasting and Postal Services Support Organization (JICT) under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Regarding submarine cables, the three players were U.S. Subcom, French Alcatel Submarine Networks, and NEC. NEC was expanding its business outside Asia, such as the route connecting Africa and South America.
Huawei was originally centered on short distances, and in
recent years it had increased its presence by working on long distances
connecting South America and Africa. Although it announced that it would sell
its submarine cable business in June 2019, it was expected that another major
Chinese telecom company could continue its business even after the sale.
So, it
seems that Chile is yielding to the pressure from the US in making the
decision. China is being isolated from the international communication network
construction.
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