Chile. The Undersecretariat of Telecommunications, Subtel, together with the Municipality of Providencia delivered the balance of removal of disused aerial cables at the national level, which -at the end of 2019- reached 1,200 kilometers, a figure equivalent to the distance between the Metropolitan Region and Chiloé.
"The residents of all the neighborhoods of the country have the right to live in an environment free of visual pollution, which often hinders lighting, generating potential sources of crime. In addition, with the removal of these so-called 'aerial debris' we are modifying the urban environment to a friendlier one. That is why we appreciate the willingness and work of each of those involved in making possible this great advance that allows us to have cleaner and safer streets, "said the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Gloria Hutt.
The Secretary of State added that "we are very happy with the result of the joint work with the mayors, municipalities, regional seremis and telecommunications companies, so our projections estimate that in 2020 we will reach 2,000 kilometers and in 2022 we will reach 3,000 kilometers, equivalent to the approximate distance between Santiago and Puerto Natales."
For her part, the Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Pamela Gidi, said that "since the beginning of President Piñera's second term, SUBTEL has promoted work tables for the removal of disused cables, whose result today we can appreciate with these 1,200 kilometers removed. Also, in new projects, we hope that companies can opt for burial in those places that meet the conditions."
Although differences are seen at the regional level, it can be seen that, in most cases, the different municipalities and telecommunications companies have worked to achieve good figures in terms of aerial debris removal. In this line, the regions of Valparaíso, Maule, La Araucanía and Los Ríos stand out, in addition to the Metropolitan.
However, the MTT will continue to promote working groups between municipalities and telecommunications operators, as is being done this time with Providencia, so that these objectives can be met and improve the quality of life of all citizens.
"The streets with real nests of cables everywhere look horrible, but beyond the aesthetic, the lack of care of the companies, force us municipalities to prune the trees so that the cables pass, and thus do not grow in their natural form, which favors that the branches disengage. There are also problems in traffic and in the safety of people generated by this real air garbage, "said the Mayor of Providencia, Evelyn Matthei.
