High-speed internet could be coming to Antarctica

Overhead photo showing McMurdo Station in Antarctica

McMurdo Station in Antarctica | United States Antarctic Program

On a volcanic rock just off the coast of Antarctica, McMurdo Station is abuzz with scientific research this time of year. Run by the US National Science Foundation, the station sees up to 1,000 visitors in the Antarctic summer from October to February, who travel here to conduct research on topics ranging from climate to ocean science.

But despite its central role in Antarctic research, McMurdo is lacking something most scientists working at 21st-century laboratories take for granted: high-speed internet.

McMurdo sits on the only continent that doesn’t have a high-speed fiber optic cable connection to the rest of the world. That could soon change, however.

Earlier this year, the NSF began seriously exploring the possibility of building...