Vietnam should triple the number of international fiber optic cables it has from five to 15 by the year 2030.

A report at the website of Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) spells out ambitious plans for the future of the country’s optical fiber access. “The projected number of cables clearly defines the importance of Vietnam’s international fiber optic cable system as part of the digital infrastructure and something which must be prioritized in terms of investment, ensuring the country’s connection internationally,” the report said. It added that there must be enough capacity so some Vietnamese cities can become regional data centers.

The goal is to develop the international fiber optic cable system to build the international connectivity bridge for digital economic promotion, digital society, defense and security. State-owned enterprises have led the international foundation to date. By 2035, the goal is for the infrastructure to be equal to that of the leading groups in the region in terms of quantity, capacity and quality, becoming a super large cloud computing service provider, making Vietnam an important link in regional and international digital infrastructure and data transmission. It should have at least two more international land fiber optic cable lines by 2030. That capacity on land would represent at least 15% of the actual capacity of the marine system.

By 2027, Vietnam will open four new undersea fiber optic cable lines for public use, bringing the total capacity to at least 134 Tbps. At least one of those routes would be owned by the country of Vietnam. The country will maintain at least Singapore, Hong Kong (China) and Japan as the main digital hub connections, while periodically reviewing and evaluating digital hubs to add appropriate connection points.

For the period 2028-30, at least six new undersea fiber optic cable routes, including one route owned by Vietnam, will be put into use, increasing the total design capacity of marine fiber optic cables in Vietnam to a minimum of 350 Tbps. In addition to two land cable lines connecting to Hong Kong (China) and Singapore with a total capacity of 5 Tbps, Vietnam now has five international undersea fiber optic cable lines with total available capacity of 34 Tbps.

Bekaert Corporation announced that it will expand production of wire stranding at its Van Buren manufacturing facility in Alabama.

Per the company and multiple wire stories, Bekaert is purchasing new manufacturing equipment for products used in the electrical grid and telecommunications industries. Bekaert Plant Manager Randy McClaren Jr., was cited as saying that the expansion is not to increase the footprint of the plant but its capacity to make steel cores used for electrical transmission lines.

The Van Buren plant, which began production for Bekaert in 1970, had its wire stranding capacity increased in 2021. There is room to expand the size of the plant, which also makes barbed wire and other products that are not part of the expansion. The new project should result in another 38 employees. Bekaert also has a manufacturing operation in Rogers, Arkansas.

In other news, Bekaert announces the acquisition of BEXCO, a manufacturer of synthetic ropes that can be used for offshore energy production, both conventional and renewable. Bekaert notes that it has significant experience in this field via its Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group business unit. The €40 million acquisition “is part of Bekaert’s growth strategy and strengthens its current offering in synthetic offshore lifting and mooring solutions.”

Southwire announced that it will expand the company’s Cofer Technology Center in Carrollton, Georgia

A press release said the expansion will add approximately 50,000 sq ft to Southwire’s footprint and include a manufacturing line for production of R&D wire samples. The facility will have a focus on engineering with sustainable components, such as creating cable with recyclable plastic insulation materials.

“I am thrilled to share this announcement of Southwire’s investment in the R&D space,” said Southwire COO Norman Adkins, who described it as promising time for both the industry and Southwire. “The facility represents our progress as a company as we drive forward into the next chapter of electrical innovation.” 

The new facility has been engineered with the qualifications for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification in mind. LEED, which is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is a widely respected recognition of sustainable design and energy conservation in buildings.

“Our industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by a global focus on sustainability, renewables, electric vehicles and grid transformation, just to name a few,” said Axel Schlumberger, senior vice president of research and development. “The expansion of our R&D facilities will enable that growth in strategic growth market verticals and accelerate innovation and the development of new solutions for our core and emerging markets.” 

The expansion should be completed by the end of 2024, with the facility fully functional by the end of 2025.

Belden, a leading global supplier of network infrastructure and digitization solutions, has opened a new state-of-the-art Fiber Technology Center in Tucson, Arizona.

A press release said that the 300,000-sq-ft facility will serve as a multifunctional hub where Belden’s fiber experts lead optical fiber cable and connectivity innovation, research and development. It will also support warehousing, distribution, administration and manufacturing as the company continues to grow its optical fiber capabilities. The site furthers the company’s continued leadership in and commitment to optical fiber, as digital transformation accelerates demand for the bandwidth fiber offers.

The Fiber Technology Center will amplify the work being done in the company’s existing fiber facilities and test labs around the world, including eight manufacturing plants and two research and development sites. It is located close to not only airports, freight terminals and logistics hubs but also to the University of Arizona and the area’s talented tech workforce, the Fiber Technology Center is positioned to streamline and strengthen Belden’s supply chain and increase production of U.S.-based optical fiber manufacturing—all while connecting qualified engineers to new career opportunities.

The development brings new benefits to customers. Those include that Belden products will be distributed closer to the U.S. West Coast so customers can get the products they need faster; FiberExpress fiber assemblies can be made and shipped in two to five business days; same-day shipping will be available for eligible fiber cables and connectivity; and it will allow for better prototyping capabilities.

 “As Belden continues to expand fiber production and innovation to help customers build the future, the Fiber Technology Center will allow us to elevate our work and find new ways to respond to customer demand,” said Jay Wirts, the company’s executive vice president of enterprise solutions.

NKT reports that it will deliver 1,300 km of 20 kV cables to distribution system operator (DSO) Tauron to support a stronger, more robust power grid in Poland.

A press release said that with more than 400 employees in Poland, NKT is committed to the country and supporting its power grid upgrade projects. It noted that renewable power is playing an increasingly important role in Poland’s energy mix with a goal of it making up more than 30% of the country’s energy mix by 2030. This will include a significant increase of installed capacity in solar power of approximately 5-7 GW in 2030 and between 10-16 GW by 2040.

The 20 kV power cable will be delivered throughout 2024-2025 to the Tauron Group, which was described as the largest electricity distributor in Poland. The Tauron Group supplies 51.6 TWh of electricity over an area of 57,000 sq km, serving 5.8 million customers in Southern Poland.