Digital Divide Country Profile · South America

CL

Chile

Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.

Location in the world

Chile

Flag of Chile

South America

World map showing the location of ChileChile
🇨🇱
Population (2024)
19,764,771
Total area
756,102 km²
Area in square miles
291,932.49 mi²
Coastline
6,435 km
Base map adapted from Wikimedia Commons. Population: World Bank (2024); geography: CIA World Factbook.

National digital inclusion context

A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.

This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Chile in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.

The documented portfolio emphasizes Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure, Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure, Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure, Fiber/Fiber Optic, 5G. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.

Portfolio pattern

What the documented response contains.

Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.

Infrastructure and access

  1. Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure14
  2. Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure9
  3. Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure7
  4. Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure4
  5. Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure3

Specific technologies

  1. Fiber/Fiber Optic14
  2. 5G3
  3. Artificial Intelligence1
  4. Computer Science1
  5. Digital Learning1

Intervention classification

  1. Infrastructure and Specific Technology18
  2. Infrastructure only5
  3. Specific Technology only2
  4. Neither explicitly identified1
  5. Policy + Technology / Satellite1

Education and workforce

Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.

9 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 1 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.

Access

Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.

Capability

Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.

Participation

Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.

Sustainability

Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.

Project and initiative portfolio

27 documented records

Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.

01

5G adoption

2026 5G scale-up – 10.8 million connections

Ongoing / June 2026 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodOngoing / June 2026LocationNationwidePopulationMobile usersOrganizationsOperators; SUBTEL

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: 5G rollout and service uptake

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G
02

Fiber adoption

2026 fiber-market scale – 87.3% of fixed internet over fiber

Ongoing / June 2026 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodOngoing / June 2026LocationNationwidePopulationFixed-broadband usersOrganizationsOperators; SUBTEL

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Fiber network expansion and uptake

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
03

Rural last-mile fiber

Aysén Última Milla – 33 Rural Localities

Awarded Aug 2026 · Aysén Region
View details
Status / periodAwarded Aug 2026LocationAysén RegionPopulationNearly 8,000 households in 33 rural localitiesOrganizationsSUBTEL; Gobierno Regional de Aysén; Mundo Telecomunicaciones

Connects end users to fiber backbone with more than 600 km of new last-mile fiber.

Activities and approach: 600+ km fiber; household broadband

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
04

Rural school connectivity

Aysén Última Milla – Escuela Rural Valle Simpson reinforcement

Implementation / 2026 · Valle Simpson
View details
Status / periodImplementation / 2026LocationValle SimpsonPopulationStudents and staffOrganizationsSUBTEL; GORE; Mundo

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: School connectivity reinforcement; donated equipment

Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure
05

Rural last-mile fiber

Aysén Última Milla 2026 award – 600+ km fiber build

Awarded August 2026 · Aysén
View details
Status / periodAwarded August 2026LocationAysénPopulationNearly 8,000 rural householdsOrganizationsSUBTEL; GORE Aysén; Mundo

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: 600+ km fiber; 33 rural localities

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
06

Satellite spectrum policy and connectivity-enabling reform

Chile Satellite Spectrum Expansion for Broadband Competition

Regulatory expansion reported July 2026 · Chile
View details
Status / periodRegulatory expansion reported July 2026LocationChilePopulationConsumers and communities that may benefit from expanded satellite communications optionsOrganizationsChilean telecommunications authorities; satellite operatorsFundingRegulatory action; no funding amount stated

expanding spectrum available for satellite communications and competition, improving the policy environment for connectivity in difficult-to-serve locations.

Activities and approach: Expand satellite communication frequency bands/spectrum allocation; support satellite competition

Satellite BroadbandSpectrum PolicySatellite communicationsspectrum allocation
Global Validity. (2026). Chile expands satellite bands to boost competition. https://globalvalidity.com/chile-expands-satellite-bands-to-boost-competition/Open supporting source ↗
07

Broadband connectivity project

Conectividad para la Educación 2030

Operational / expansion · Schools nationwide
View details
Status / periodOperational / expansionLocationSchools nationwidePopulationStudents and teachersOrganizationsSUBTEL; Fondo de Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones; regional governments/operators

Provides high-speed Internet to thousands of state-supported educational establishments.

Activities and approach: School broadband

Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure
08

School broadband

Conectividad para la Educación 2030 – 2025 tranche for 400+ schools

Awarded / implemented · Atacama, Maule, Biobío
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Status / periodAwarded / implementedLocationAtacama, Maule, BiobíoPopulation100,000+ studentsOrganizationsSUBTEL; Ministry of Education

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: High-speed measurable school connectivity

Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure
09

Rural school 5G

Escuela Rural Altamira 5G connectivity deployment

Delivered June 2026 · Cholchol, La Araucanía
View details
Status / periodDelivered June 2026LocationCholchol, La AraucaníaPopulationRural students and teachersOrganizationsSUBTEL; Claro Chile

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: 5G antenna/service

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G
10

Devices and digital literacy

Escuela Rural Altamira tablets and digital-skills workshop

Delivered June 2026 · Cholchol
View details
Status / periodDelivered June 2026LocationCholcholPopulationSchool communityOrganizationsClaro Chile; SUBTEL

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Tablets; safe-internet workshop

Tablet
11

Broadband connectivity project

Fibra Óptica Austral (FOA)

Operational · Patagonia / far south
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Status / periodOperationalLocationPatagonia / far southPopulationRemote southern communitiesOrganizationsSUBTEL; Fondo de Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones; regional governments/operators

Provides terrestrial and submarine backbone connectivity across some of Chile's most remote regions.

Activities and approach: Submarine and terrestrial fiber

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
12

Broadband connectivity project

Fibra Óptica Nacional (FON)

Implementation · National macrozones
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Status / periodImplementationLocationNational macrozonesPopulationCommunities and service providersOrganizationsSUBTEL; Fondo de Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones; regional governments/operators

Deploys a nationwide open fiber network to improve high-capacity transport outside commercially attractive zones.

Activities and approach: 10,000+ km fiber; wholesale infrastructure

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
13

Rural last-mile fiber

Fibra Óptica Ñuble – Última Milla Stage 1

Awarded / implementation · Ñuble Region
View details
Status / periodAwarded / implementationLocationÑuble RegionPopulationRural communities, health and education sitesOrganizationsSUBTEL; GORE Ñuble; COPELEC

Connects rural localities and anchor institutions to fiber.

Activities and approach: Last-mile fiber

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
14

Regional fiber backbone

FON Macrozona Arica y Parinacota

Awarded / deployed · Arica y Parinacota
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Status / periodAwarded / deployedLocationArica y ParinacotaPopulationRural and underserved communitiesOrganizationsSUBTEL; WOM

Brings open fiber closer to isolated communities and lowers cost of last-mile expansion.

Activities and approach: Regional fiber backbone

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
15

Regional fiber backbone

FON Macrozona Centro

Awarded / deployed · O’Higgins and Maule
View details
Status / periodAwarded / deployedLocationO’Higgins and MaulePopulationRural and underserved communitiesOrganizationsSUBTEL; WOM

Extends subsidized backbone closer to rural populations.

Activities and approach: Regional fiber backbone

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
16

Regional fiber backbone

FON Macrozona Centro Norte

Awarded / deployed · Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Metropolitana
View details
Status / periodAwarded / deployedLocationCoquimbo, Valparaíso, MetropolitanaPopulationCommunities lacking adequate high-capacity backhaulOrganizationsSUBTEL; WOM

Adds open fiber routes in central-northern Chile.

Activities and approach: Regional fiber backbone

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
17

Regional fiber backbone

FON Macrozona Centro Sur

Awarded / deployed · Ñuble and Biobío
View details
Status / periodAwarded / deployedLocationÑuble and BiobíoPopulationRural communities and local operatorsOrganizationsSUBTEL; WOM

Improves fiber availability and enables lower-cost last-mile builds.

Activities and approach: Regional fiber backbone

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
18

Regional fiber backbone

FON Macrozona Norte

Awarded / deployed · Antofagasta and Atacama
View details
Status / periodAwarded / deployedLocationAntofagasta and AtacamaPopulationRural and underserved communitiesOrganizationsSUBTEL; WOM

Extends backbone capacity through northern regions.

Activities and approach: Regional fiber backbone

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
19

Regional fiber backbone

FON Macrozona Sur

Awarded / deployed · Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos
View details
Status / periodAwarded / deployedLocationAraucanía, Los Ríos and Los LagosPopulationIsolated southern communitiesOrganizationsSUBTEL; awarded operator

Adds backbone to 20 isolated localities cited across Los Ríos/Los Lagos and broader southern coverage.

Activities and approach: Regional fiber backbone

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
20

Public-school digital education / computer science / AI literacy / teacher development

IdeoDigital Chile Public-School Computer Science and AI Literacy Initiative

Active; launched 2021; expanded 2026-2031 · Public schools across Chile; initial implementation in 14 regions with strengthened focus on northern Chile
View details
Status / periodActive; launched 2021; expanded 2026-2031LocationPublic schools across Chile; initial implementation in 14 regions with strengthened focus on northern ChilePopulationPublic-school students; teachers; school leaders; pedagogy studentsOrganizationsFundación Kodea; BHP Foundation; Chilean Ministry of Education and education partnersFundingBHP Foundation reports a 2026-2031 stage with approximately US$13 million total investment

Reduces the digital skills and AI-literacy gap by embedding computer science and responsible AI learning into the public education system rather than limiting advanced digital learning to better-resourced students.

Activities and approach: Teacher training; computer-science curriculum/content; classroom support; AI literacy; policy engagement; pedagogy-student AI course; school implementation

Artificial IntelligenceComputer ScienceProgramming / CodingDigital Learning
BHP. (2026, August 18). Education for the future is not a future problem. https://www.bhp.com/news/case-studies/2025/07/education-for-the-future-is-not-a-future-problemOpen supporting source ↗
21

Connectivity mapping

National Connectivity Registry

Operational / 2026 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodOperational / 2026LocationNationwidePopulationPlanners, operators and communitiesOrganizationsSUBTEL

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Connectivity/infrastructure registry and public data

Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding
22

Older-adult digital inclusion

National Digital Inclusion Strategy for Older Persons 2025–2035

Launched October 2025 · Nationwide
View details
Status / periodLaunched October 2025LocationNationwidePopulationOlder peopleOrganizationsMDSF; SENAMA; MTT; SEGEGOB

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Access support; learning; autonomy; intergenerational inclusion

23

School broadband

Rural School Broadband – 667 Schools

Implemented / legacy · 155 communes nationwide
View details
Status / periodImplemented / legacyLocation155 communes nationwidePopulation108,000+ rural students plus familiesOrganizationsSUBTEL; FDT; providers

Provided three years of free broadband to rural schools in isolated, low-income areas.

Activities and approach: Broadband to schools

Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure
24

Rural 5G

Second 5G Contest – rural infrastructure obligations

Implementation / ongoing · Selected rural locations
View details
Status / periodImplementation / ongoingLocationSelected rural locationsPopulationUnderserved residentsOrganizationsSUBTEL; mobile operators

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Required rural base stations; private investment

Mobile / Wireless InfrastructureTower / Site Infrastructure5G
25

Remote fiber backbone

Tortel–Villa O’Higgins Fiber Deployment

Awarded 2025 · Aysén – Tortel to Villa O’Higgins
View details
Status / periodAwarded 2025LocationAysén – Tortel to Villa O’HigginsPopulationRemote southern communitiesOrganizationsSUBTEL; project contractor

Builds fiber between two highly isolated southern localities.

Activities and approach: Fiber-optic route

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
26

Broadband connectivity project

Última Milla Regional Projects

Preparation/awards ongoing · Regional rural localities
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Status / periodPreparation/awards ongoingLocationRegional rural localitiesPopulationRural households and businessesOrganizationsSUBTEL; Fondo de Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones; regional governments/operators

Extends service from national/regional fiber backbones to end users in underserved communities.

Activities and approach: Last-mile fiber and access networks

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
27

Broadband connectivity project

WiFi ChileGob 2.0

Operational · Public zones nationwide
View details
Status / periodOperationalLocationPublic zones nationwidePopulationResidents needing free public accessOrganizationsSUBTEL; Fondo de Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones; regional governments/operators

Creates subsidized free Wi-Fi zones in communities and public places.

Activities and approach: Public Wi-Fi hotspots

Public Wi-Fi / Community Network InfrastructureWi-Fi

Evidence boundary

Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.

Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.

Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.

Evidence and contextProfile Sources

These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.

  1. Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Chile. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/chile/
  2. International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
  3. World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Chile. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=CL
  4. World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Chile. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=CL

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