Aluminum and renewable energy company Hydro and power cable solutions provider NKT have signed a landmark long-term agreement for the supply of aluminum wire rod, valued at approximately €1 billion.

A press release said that the deal guarantees a stable supply of low-carbon aluminum from Hydro for NKT, which plans to ramp up production to meet surging demand for medium and high voltage power cables across Europe. The agreement calls for Hydro to supply NKT with an estimated 274,000 metric tons of aluminum wire rod from 2026 through 2033, with an option for additional volumes. The total quantity covered by the contract is enough to manufacture medium-voltage cables that could circle the globe nine times or stretch the entire distance to the moon, about 363,000 km.

The new deal builds on a more than 40-year partnership between the two companies and extends their existing contract for 2025. The agreement is seen as a critical step in supporting Europe’s efforts to modernize its aging grid infrastructure.

The agreement secures NKT access to Hydro’s REDUXA 4.0 primary aluminum, produced in Norway with renewable energy. It has a documented carbon footprint of 4 kg CO2e per kilo aluminum or less, about a quarter of the world industry average.

NKT President and CEO Claes Westerlind said that securing the long-term is important for the company to deliver on the growing demand for power cables as Europe accelerates its energy transition. “Our partnership with Hydro will help us ensure reliable deliveries to our customers and support the continent’s climate ambitions.”

“It is with a sense of urgency that Europe is now mobilizing to reduce dependency on fossil fuel imports, introduce more homegrown, renewable power, and ensure security of supply of critical raw materials,” said Hydro CEO and President Eivind Kallevik.

Prysmian reports that it has completed the acquisition of Channell Commercial Corporation (Channell), a strategic move that will further its ability to be a complete end-to-end supplier of Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) solutions.

A press release said that the $950 million acquisition positions Prysmian as a leading provider of Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) solutions, covering connectivity from the curb to the home. It also strengthens Prysmian’s overall position in the North American cable sector.

Channell supplies advanced thermoplastic enclosures that are essential for protecting fiber optic connections and network equipment in outdoor and underground FTTH deployments. “By combining Prysmian’s market-leading portfolio of optical cable products—including ribbon, loose tube, and drop cables—with Channell’s innovative infrastructure components, the acquisition creates a comprehensive FTTH solution for customers in North America.”

Prysmian’s positioning in the connectivity solutions space will also be strengthened, thanks to an extended commercial reach and complementary R&D focus that will position the business for the roll-out of FTTH and 5G, as well as the growth of data centers, the release said.

“This is not just an acquisition – it is a strategic step forward,” said Frederick Persson, Prysmian’s EVP Digital Solutions.

A high-profile patent dispute between Credo Semiconductor and several major cable and connector manufacturers—including Amphenol, Molex, TE Connectivity and Volex—has entered a new phase, with all related federal lawsuits now officially paused as the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) moves forward with its investigation.

Per multiple media reports, the case centers on Credo’s allegations of infringement of patents covering Active Electrical Cables (AECs) and related high-speed connectivity technology. It began with a complaint filed at the ITC on March 13, 2025. Credo also filed parallel lawsuits in federal courts in Delaware and Texas, asserting willful infringement and seeking damages, as well as an import ban on allegedly infringing products.

However, recent court filings show that both the Delaware and Texas cases have been stayed at the request of the defendants, with the agreement of all parties, under a federal statute that gives priority to ITC investigations in such matters. In Delaware, a judge granted an unopposed motion to stay proceedings on April 23, 2025, pending the outcome of the ITC investigation, including any appeals. Likewise, a Texas federal judge issued a similar stay in the case against TE Connectivity on April 18, 2025.

The Commission will determine whether the accused products infringe Credo’s patents and, if so, whether to issue an exclusion order blocking their import into the U.S. The outcome of this investigation will likely shape the next steps in the paused district court cases.

Credo’s complaint asserts that it invented and pioneered AEC technology, investing heavily in its development since 2017, and claims that the defendants’ products unlawfully use its patented innovations. The company says it notified the defendants of its patents as early as September 2023.

Google has signed an agreement that will provide the first submarine fiber optic cable that will link South America directly to Asia and Oceania.

A press release said that the project, known as the Humboldt Project, calls for a 14,800-km cable that will deliver a capacity of 144 terabytes per second. It will run from Valparaiso, Chile, to Sydney, Australia, via French Polynesia. The system is designed for open access, allowing use by Google and other technology companies operating in the region. “The idea of building this cable is that it can also be used not only by Google but also by other users,” said Cristian Ramos, director of telecommunications infrastructure for Latin America at Alphabet, Google’s parent company.

Currently, Chile’s international digital connections rely on undersea cables routed primarily through the United States. The Humboldt Project will provide a faster, more direct alternative, benefiting not only Chile but also Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil.

While the cable supplier has not been named, Google has previously partnered with manufacturers such as SubCom, NEC and Alcatel Submarine Networks on major subsea projects. Google’s investment is estimated at $300 million to 550 million, with the Chilean government contributing $25 million.

Nexans has inaugurated Stella Nova, a Center of Excellence dedicated to pioneering electrification technologies, and unveiled a world-first demonstration of superconducting cables designed for the next generation of data centers.

A press release said that the center, located on the Panattoni Campus in Hanover, Germany, hosts more than 70 experts in engineering, research and manufacturing in the 9,000-sq-m facility. It focuses on three areas: high-precision forming and welding machinery, advanced cryogenic systems for safe fluid transfer, and superconducting cable and Fault Current Limiter systems. The high-voltage laboratory can be used for testing both conventional and superconducting cables and components.

The inauguration included a live demonstration of superconducting low-voltage AC and DC cables, a breakthrough designed to meet the soaring energy demands of hyperscale data centers. These cables can transmit up to 10 times more power than conventional solutions, with zero energy loss, minimal heat generation, and a dramatically reduced infrastructure footprint—critical advantages as data center power consumption is projected to reach 10% of global electricity demand by 2030.

“Superconductivity is revolutionizing the path toward a more efficient and modern energy grid,” said Nexans Corporate VP Director of Innovation Jérôme Fournier. “With Stella Nova, we’re accelerating the energy transition and supporting the digital economy’s sustainability goals.”