IDOM is designing the network that will support operations at the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile

IDOM has been selected to design the communications infrastructure for the Giant Magellan Telescope, located on Cerro Las Campanas in the Atacama Desert (Chile). One of the most advanced telescopes of its generation, it will operate in an extreme environment at an altitude of over 2,500 meters, where robust and highly reliable solutions are required due to the challenging environmental conditions.

IDOM’s scope of work includes the comprehensive design of the telescope’s communications system, featuring a modular data centre located at Support Site 1, which will serve as the technological core of operations. This facility will house switching systems, servers and security platforms and is designed to operate continuously despite extreme temperatures, winds exceeding 140 km/h and high seismic activity.

The project also includes a fibre‑optic backbone network connecting all site facilities. Microwave and satellite links will be integrated as contingency systems to ensure communications continuity, even in emergency situations. In addition, a full‑coverage Wi‑Fi network and an underground cabling infrastructure designed to protect systems from dust, radiation and temperature fluctuations will be deployed.

Through this initiative, IDOM brings its expertise in critical telecommunications infrastructure to a global scientific project. The developed design establishes the technological foundations required for the future operations of the Giant Magellan Telescope and reinforces IDOM’s commitment to highly complex international projects.