It took eight years, but the ownership of Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN)—the submarine telecom cable production and installation subsidiary of Finnish equipment manufacturer Nokia—has finally been resolved, with the owner being the French government.

A press release said that on Nov. 5, Antoine Armand, the French economy minister, and Marc Ferracci, the French industry minister, signed a contract to acquire 80% of the capital at the company’s plant in Calais. ASN was a subsidiary of Alcatel, then Alcatel-Lucent, until it was acquired by the Finnish group Nokia in 2016. “The proposed sale of ASN to the French State is the result of extensive discussions which concluded that the French State is the most relevant custodian of ASN,” Nokia said, in a statement.

Per a report in Le Monde, the transaction is worth around €100 million, with the state taking on ASN’s €250 million debt. Nokia will retain a 20% interest that can be bought out later.

An on-line report said that Nokia had been seeking to divest ASN since it completed its Alcatel-Lucent purchase in 2016. “At one stage it even looked like Nokia was resigned to hanging on to the company itself. But ultimately, Alcatel Submarine Networks is a strategic asset for the French state and as such the government has decided to put its hand in its pocket, regardless of the distraction of an upcoming election.”

Ducab Metals Business has signed an agreement that will see the company more than double the size of its existing plant in the UAE’s Khalifa Economic Zone.

A press release said that the 50-year lease agreement, signed by Khaled Lootah, chairman of Ducab Group, will result in Ducab Metals Business adding 51,015 sqm to its existing 50,000 sqm facility in KEZAD. The expansion will enable the company to increase its production capacity of copper and aluminum industrial products. This expansion brings Ducab Metals Business’s presence in KEZAD to over 100,000 sqm.

The project will provide new jobs, further the company’s R&D work and enhance Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a hub for the new varieties of advanced metal products.

As a stand-alone company within Ducab Group, DMB is the largest such company in the region. The company has annual capacity of 180,000 metric tons of copper rod and 50,000 metric tons of aluminum rod and overhead conductor capacity. DMB also designs solutions that will be manufactured in Ducab’s existing copper rod and aluminum factories, both of which are based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Taihan Cable & Solution (Taihan Cable) announced that it has signed an agreement with KG Steel at Hoban Park in Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea, that will provide Taihan Cable with the land it need to build a second submarine cable factory.

Per an on-line report in Korea IT Times, a signing ceremony was held that included Vice Chairman Song Jong-min and President Park Sung-hee of Taihan Cable. They were with management from the parent companies, including Kim Dae-heon, planning president of Hoban Group, and Kwak Jeong-hyun, strategy president of KG Group. The event emphasized both groups’ commitment to strengthening business cooperation and establishing a forward-looking collaboration model. “Through the purchase of convertible bonds, KG Steel will receive 110 billion won (approximately $78.5 million) for the land, reflecting its high valuation of Taihan Cable’s potential growth in the submarine cable sector and the belief that their collaboration will generate future value.”

The acquired site, approximately 215,000 sq m, is located in the Godeok District, Asan National Industrial Complex in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province. It is adjacent to Taihan Cable’s existing first submarine cable factory. This area forms Korea’s largest cable production cluster, close to Taihan Cable’s major production facilities—the Dangjin Cable and Solution Factories. Taihan Cable plans to produce submarine cables, underground cables, and power and communication-related products in this integrated location, maximizing synergy effects.

The new factory will include a VCV tower for producing 620kV class HVDC submarine cables and external network submarine cables. “Furthermore, both companies intend to bolster their collaboration in the North American market, leveraging their years of experience and expertise to explore opportunities for increased exports to the U.S. and joint business ventures.”

Hellenic Cables, the cables segment of Cenergy Holdings, will supply and install approximately 38 km of 150kV submarine and land cables for a Greek project.

A press release said that the turnkey contract is from IPTO (Independent Power Transmission Operator), which is responsible for the operation, monitoring, maintenance, and development of the Hellenic Electricity Transmission System. It calls for 50 kV XLPE underground and submarine cables to enhance the electrical interconnections between Kefalonia-Zakynthos and Lefkada-Kefalonia, the Ionian islands in Greece.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2026. The submarine cables will be manufactured at the Hellenic Cables plant in Corinth, Greece. The capacity of that facility has recently been expanded, and it can manufacture continuous lengths for some of the longest submarine cables. The land cables will be manufactured at the company’s plant in Thiva, Greece, that has also seen a capacity expansion investment program.

U.K.-based KnitMesh Technologies (KnitMesh) reports that it has created a wire knitting machine that is able to manufacture wire mesh six feet across, a width that the company reports is an industry record.

A press release said that the model was specifically designed to produce mesh as wide as four meters to exacting tolerances to produce “green” hydrogen from water. The process “splits” water into separate hydrogen and oxygen molecules using an electrolysis process, and having access to larger size wire mesh provides economies of scale. The KnitMesh model can process wire from 0.10 mm to 0.50 mm in special metals and alloys, including stainless steels, nickel and coated wires. The company notes that it designed and produced the new system, as well as other bespoke equipment.

Asked by WJI whether the record width related just to the new demand, and if it could have been made at an earlier time, and possibly even wider, the company responded, “Theoretically, it could have been done before, but practical experience gained on recent large knitting machines has enabled this step.” As for the width, it observed, “Any width is possible, but any larger and the machines would require significant development of new components, such as bearings. The size of the new machine (we made) meets customer requirements for the foreseeable future.”

 KnitMesh Managing Director Peter Evans said that he is enthusiastic about the company’s role in shaping a carbon-free future through hydrogen fuel technologies. “We see hydrogen fuel as a key component of a sustainable future, and KnitMesh Technologies is proud to be a major supplier to this industry. We are actively expanding our business through recruitment and new equipment, and we foresee a bright future for our hydrogen division.”

In October, the company exhibited at Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe, held in Hamburg Messe in Hamburg, Germany. There they showcased their range of knitted wire mesh products, such as gas diffusion layers, porous transport layers, and mist eliminators. “The products garnered significant interest from attendees, reinforcing KnitMesh Technologies’ position as a leader in manufacturing advanced knitted wire mesh solutions.”

Founded in 1957, KnitMesh also has a plant in India, and activity there is expected to increase. “We are working with several Indian customers who will require meshes for green hydrogen electrolysers, and when they reach the series production stage we will install equipment at our Indian plant so we can ensure local supply.”

KnitMesh notes that wire mesh for creating “green” hyrdogen is a world-wide product. “Our main markets are currently Europe and North America, and we already supply similar electrolyzer meshes to customers in North America. As demand grows, we are likely to open a plant in North America.”

RTE, the transmission system operator (TSO) for France, has contracted with five suppliers–Prysmian, Nexans, NKT-SolidAI and Hellenic Cables–to secure underground power cables supplies for its projects through 2028.

A press release said that the collective project will cost almost €1 billion for the supply and installation of around 5,200 km of underground cables for voltage levels ranging from 90,000 to 400,000 volts, with the cost for the cables at €668 million euros, including €300 million for cable installation and assembly services.

One third of the cables will be made in France at Prysmian plants in Gron (Yonne) and Montereau-Fault-Yonne (Seine-et-Marne) and the Nexans plant in Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain). With this commitment, RTE is reserving almost all of the French production capacity still available until 2028, for the production of more than 1,700 km of cables. The release noted that the order to develop and strengthen the existing French electricity transmission network has allowed Prysmian to invest in a new cable production line in Seine-et-Marne.

Prysmian CEO Massimo Battaini said that the order “represents an exceptional opportunity for Prysmian to actively contribute to the local economic and social development of our sites in France with continued investments aimed at leveraging know-how and technologies available on the territory and creating new jobs.”

“Nexans is proud to put its expertise at the service of this common ambition for a more reliable electricity grid and a stronger industry,” said Nexans CEO Christopher Guérin.

“We are excited to continue the long-term collaboration with RTE as they modernize and strengthen France’s power grid and support the transition to renewable energy,” said NKT President and CEO Claes Westerlind, who noted that his company has been working with RTE since 2011. Of note, in June, NKT acquired SolidAl, which was one of the five cable suppliers cited in the press release.

“We are honored to be part of RTE’s ambitious initiative, which not only strengthens France’s energy infrastructure but also emphasizes sustainable, European-made solutions for the regional electricity transmission network,” said Alexis Alexiou, CEO of Cenergy Holdings, which owns Hellenic Cables.

South Korea’s Taihan Cable & Solution Co. (Taihan) has secured a contract through its U.S. subsidiary, TE USA, to supply power cable in the western U.S.

Per a report in The Korea Economic Daily, Taihan will supply power cables worth about $21.8 million a year for three years. Earlier this year, the company won a similar large supply project, and the total value of contracts won this year is $54.5 million, the highest amount since the company entered the North American market.

Alaska Power & Telephone Company (AP&T) has completed the company’s “SEALink South” submarine fiber optic cable project, the latest segment in its growing southeast Alaska broadband network.

A press release said that the AP&T team completed the installation one year ahead of schedule. SEALink South includes a submarine cable system interconnecting Ketchikan with the communities of Hollis and Coffman Cove, beachfront cable landing sites, various terrestrial facilities, and associated transport equipment.

Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke, a subsidiary of Prysmian Group, provided the cable for SEALink in 2022 and it also provided the cable for SEALink South. That project was noteworthy as it represented the first- ever fiber optic link to continental North America. That project required 214 miles of submarine fiber optic cable from Prince of Wales Island to Juneau, with an overland crossing on Mitkof Island through the community of Petersburg. It was funded by a $21.5 million grant from the USDA Rural Utility Services, and more than $7 million in matching funds from APTW. It was completed two years ahead of schedule.

The SEALink South Project uses 101 miles of submarine fiber optic cable to expand connectivity in Alaska’s Alexander Archipelago region, enhancing resilience through diverse routing options and a fiber “ring” around Prince of Wales Island. SEALink South was funded via a $29.3m USDA ReConnect grant, plus additional matching funds supplied by AP&T.

In addition to supporting AP&T’s needs as a rural service provider, SEALink is available as a regional resource to assist carriers with transport and routing diversity requirements. This includes indigenous stakeholders working to develop tribal broadband solutions who have actively supported SEALink throughout the course of its development.

South Korea’s LS Cable & System (LS Cable) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Norway’s Equinor to cooperate on the 750 MW Bandibuli/Firefly floating offshore wind project in South Korea.

A press release said that the collaboration aims to support the development of one of the world’s largest planned floating offshore wind farms, which is projected to deliver up to 750 MW capacity by 2030, approximately 70 km off the coast of Ulsan. The Bandibuli project is one of South Korea’s first large-scale floating offshore wind initiatives that is particularly suited to deeper waters.

The MoU was signed at the BIXPO 2024 event held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Centre in Gwangju. LS Cable & System notes that it developed South Korea’s first dynamic submarine cable for floating offshore wind.

The wind farm recently entered into a Transmission Service Agreement with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). The project calls for the deployment of Siemens Gamesa 15 MW wind turbine via an agreement that was signed in October.

South Korea’s Gaon Cable announced that it has secured 100% ownership of LSCUS, its distribution cable production subsidiary in Tarboro, North Carolina, USA, by buying out its joint venture partner, LS Cable & System.

A press release said that the acquisition is part of Gaon Cable’s strategic plan to strengthen its localization capabilities in the U.S. market and boost its competitiveness in the global power infrastructure market. LSCUS was created in 2017 when the LS Group acquired the Energy division from Superior Essex to create a subsidiary under the LS Cable & System umbrella. LS C&S had an 82% stake and Gaon Cable an 18% stake. Gaon Cable’s board approved the acquisition of LS Cable’s 82% stake.

The acquisition “marks a pivotal point in Gaon Cable’s efforts to enhance its U.S. localization strategy,” the release said. It noted that Gaon Cable plans to strengthen its ultra-high voltage cable business in collaboration with LS Cable and is set to enter the submarine cable market.

“We will enhance our competitiveness by developing products suitable for the local market and establishing a stable supply chain,” said Gaon Cable CEO Jeong Hyun. “The acquisition will serve as a crucial foundation for global market entry ... to expand overseas operations with a focus on North America.”

The 294,000-sq-foot Tarboro plant opened in 2012. It has a 128.5 ft. continuous catenary vulcanization (CCV) tower with machinery to produce medium-voltage cables, with upside capabilities to produce high-voltage cables.