Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

News that cables hanging from posts in Miraflores were going to be removed and placed underground was lauded by many and received especially well by neighbors that assured that the cables were "visual contamination".

According to reports issued by Telefonica and Luz del Sur, one of Lima's main electric companies, moving these cables underground will generate additional costs that customers will have to assume.

"The cost of underground cabling is eight times as expensive as aerial cabling. This would increase the price," assured Hans Berger, a spokesperson for Luz del Sur.

Berger stated that 70 percent of Miraflores' electric cables were already underground and explained a 100-percent underground cabling system would be more expensive for customers.

Furthermore, the spokesman explained that placing the cables underground meant that the company would have to dig holes in the street, which could take longer than the municipality had ordered.

According to an ordinance published in Peru's official gazette, telephone, cable and electric companies have 18 months to put all of their cables underground.

Telefonica added that the majority of houses in Miraflores were not equipped to have underground phone connections and explained that residents would have to make certain adjustments.