In an effort to strengthen communications infrastructure, Codelco División El Teniente added more than 1,000 fiber optic connections in Alhué. This milestone is part of a collaborative effort between the copper company and the telecommunications company Mundo, the Municipality of Alhué and emergency services in the area.

To date, the project has reached more than a thousand homes, benefiting more than 1,300 residents in the area. This figure includes all students from the five local educational establishments, as well as their families.

Cristián Sanhueza, Community Development Director of El Teniente, said that “the installation of fiber optics is part of our corporate sustainability policy. With this, we generate value in the territory and contribute to the efficient implementation of the Communal Emergency Plan.”

The mayor of Alhué, Roberto Torres, said that “as a municipality we consider that the support that Codelco has given us to deliver internet, via fiber optics, to each of the students of Alhué has been a success, since more than 90% of the children and young people who study in some establishment of the commune have this benefit, which not only supports them in educational matters, but they can also entertain themselves through the internet.”

"We must highlight that higher education students in our community also benefit from this service, because even though they do not live in the community, they still have free internet to use for their studies," added the authority.

According to figures from the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications, in 2019, there were only 6 fixed internet connections. Currently, in 2023, there are 1,414 active connections in the commune of Alhué.

Importance of the agreement

The origins of this initiative arose in October 2021, when the pandemic exposed the reality of connectivity in the commune. At that time, students needed internet to continue with their virtual classes. The copper company delivered portable modems and proposed to support 100% of the homes of students in the five municipal establishments with internet.

Osvaldo Tobar Lizama, acting director of the Municipal Education Department of Alhué, explained that “this opportunity changed the lives of students, teachers and families and brought about a change in the way of living. This support has been fundamental for the growth of the commune.”

In 2023, progress was made in the connection with the agreement “Connecting the commune of Alhué in the face of the emergency”. Focused on the Communal Emergency Plan, this service is of vital importance to maintain communication in different sectors.

Benjamín Valenzuela, a professional from the Alhué Emergency Office, revealed that “its expansion has been beneficial because now there is connectivity in almost all sectors and it is easier for residents to obtain information on emergency issues and receive faster responses.”

The project has enabled the connection of essential emergency services such as firefighters, police and health organisations.

“Thanks to this, we implemented different programs. Among them, the electronic medical record that allows for continuity of medical care,” said Viviana Palacios, a nursing technician at the Pincha Rural Medical Station.

Carlos Cantillana, superintendent of the Villa Alhué Fire Department, explained that “this inter-institutional work has been very beneficial because we would not have been able to carry out a project of this magnitude on our own. Without support, it would have been impossible to carry out this communications project. We are grateful.”