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.”

LS Cable & System announced that it will commercialize the world’s largest transmission capacity ultra-high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable that increases transmission capacity by up to 50% for a new project.

A press release said that the new power cable will be exclusively supplied to the first phase of Korea Electric Power Corp.’s East Coast-Metropolitan Area (ECMA) transmission network, the largest HVDC project in Korea. The 525 kV high-temperature HVDC cable can achieve the record by increasing the allowable temperature of the conductor from 70°C to 90°C. It is scheduled to be deployed in the underground section of the first phase of the East Coast-Metropolitan Area HVDC in September.

The release said that while there have been cases of technological development overseas, this is the first time a mass-produced product is being applied to an actual transmission network. Use of DC transmission results in less transmission loss than existing alternating current and can transmit up to three times more power over long distances. The ECMA transmission network project is a national core power grid project to efficiently transfer power generated in the East Coast region to the metropolitan area. The first phase covers the East Coast-Singapyeong converter station section, and the second phase, to connect to the metropolitan area, is underway.

LS Cable noted it started developing HVDC cables in 2008, later than Europe (1950s) and Japan (1990s), and has since emerged as a leading company. It added that only six companies worldwide have commercialized this technology, with LS Cable being the only one in South Korea.

“Competitiveness in the HVDC market depends on securing commercialization technology,” said Lee In-ho, chief technology officer (CTO) of LS Cable. “Along with LS Marine Solutions, we plan to actively participate in major domestic and international projects such as the West Coast HVDC Energy Highway, East Coast-Metropolitan Area.

Last issue, WJI wrote about two cement companies that each planned to enter the wire and cable industry in India. Now, word comes of another Indian business, this one in a related field, that wants to enter the wire and cable field: Luker India, a manufacturer of LED lighting.

Per a press release and multiple media reports, the company—formed in 2015 to manufacture LED lighting—will be manufacturing wire and cable, initially with a focus on South India. Production has already started at the company’s plant in Coimbatore. The company notes that the cable manufacturing process has become easier with the adoption of AI where the consistency was as high at 99.99% compared to 98.3% earlier due to human errors.

The company plans to connect with over 100,000 retailers across India to promote and distribute its wires and cables. Further, the company has already tabbed Bollywood personality Prabhu Deva Sundaram as its brand ambassador. Of note, in the WJI May feature on marketing/social media, there was also a piece about India’s Fonolex Cables hiring two Bollywood film stars in 2022 for their marketing campaign.

Italy’s Tratos has been named the supplier for cable for the Ankara-İzmir high-speed railway project, a major infrastructure initiative in Turkey that calls for connecting the capital Ankara to the western port city of İzmir.

A press release said that Tratos is part of a consortium of three companies that are covered by the contract, valued at approximately $2.1 billion. The other two companies are Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie (GCF), a railway construction firm, and SAFET, an Italian engineering company. The three firms will jointly handle the construction of the line, which spans about 503 km and is designed for speeds up to 250 km/h. The stretch will include 39 tunnels and 66 bridges. Once completed, the Ankara-İzmir high-speed rail will reduce travel time between the two cities from over 14 hours to about 3.5 hours.

Through its U.K. subsidiary, Tratos UK, the company will manufacture a wide range of cable solutions including: medium and high voltage cables for connecting substations and switchgear; data and telecom cables, both copper and fiber optic; signaling power and control cables for connections between trackside equipment and control centers; track feeder cables for power distribution along the rail line; and pantograph and rolling stock cables for onboard train systems.

Tratos is recognized for its expertise in fire-resistant and theft-deterrent cable technologies. It has previously supplied cables for Italy’s Frecciarossa high-speed trains and has developed advanced solutions such as an alarmed cable that uses a fiber to trigger an alarm and locate the cut, improving response times.

In early June 2025, India’s Suprajit Engineering Limited (Suprajit) completed the last step in its 2024 complicated acquisition of Germany’s Stahlschmidt Cable Systems (SCS), finalizing the purchase of its operations in China and Canada.

Per a press release and multiple media reports, that final step completes the global acquisition process of SCS out of insolvency proceedings in Germany. The process was executed in two stages across five countries: Germany, Poland, Morocco, China and Canada. It included asset and equity purchases and the creation of Suprajit subsidiaries.

SCS specializes in control cable systems, and Suprajit said that its acquisition will strengthen “its position in the global market and supports its growth strategy outside India.” It will also help cross-sell Suprajit products.

A writeup from Sharekhan described how SCS ran into financial problems. “SCS ... succumbed mainly due to pricing pressure and its endeavor to relocate manufacturing operations from Germany to Morocco, Poland, Canada and China, to cut costs.” That did not work out, and added problems related to the Covid period led to its situation.

SCS was described as having low-cost manufacturing capabilities in Morocco, a strong German engineering and sales team, “and a path of China exports through Canada.” At the time the acquisition was announced, Surprajit founder and Chairman Ajith Rai said that “SCS will add $50 million in revenue and form a key part of our global supply chain.”

Per reports, the Poland relocation is complete, and operations, with some key employees kept to support Morocco. SCS’s headquarters in Germany had a reduction in its workforce but is now an integral part of Suprajit.

The acquisition was made through Suprajit USA Inc., which set up Suprajit Canada Ltd. Suprajit Germany GmbH was also created to consummate the transaction.

South Korea’s LS Cable has signed a Preferred Supplier Agreement (PSA) with Haesong Offshore Wind Co. (HOWC) for the Haesong Offshore Wind 3 project, which is located off the southwest coast of Korea, near Shinan County, Jeonnam Province.

Per postings by HOWC, a business of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, the Haesong 3 project—also referred to as Jeonnam 3—is part of combined 800 MW expansion (Jeonnam 2 and 3). It will include both inter-array and export cables. The exact amount was not specified, but reports said that it is likely to require 200 km or more of cable. The collective projects support South Korea’s goal of reaching 14.3 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

The PSA follows the recent completion of Haesong 1/Jeonnam 1), a 96 MW system that required an estimated 50 km of inter-array cable and 10-20 km of export cable, LS Cable supplied and installed the submarine cables.

The projects are part of a major offshore wind development effort led by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and local partners. Jeonnam 1 was described as the first offshore wind farm in Korea led by the private sector. This agreement “establishes a framework for continued discussions on the design, manufacturing, and procurement of subsea cables, paving the way for future collaboration.”

Mega Metal, a Turkish copper wire manufacturer that was among the returning exhibitors at Interwire 2025, is opening a cable plant in Ridgeway, South Carolina.

Mega Metal is entering the North American market with a $34 million investment in a new production facility in Ridgeway, South Carolina. The company will retrofit a 91,000-sq-ft building to produce superfine electrolytic oxygen-free (EOF) copper wire—an essential component for industries ranging from automotive and aerospace to medical and defense.

The Ridgeway plant marks Mega Metal’s first U.S. operation and is expected to create 135 new jobs in Fairfield County. Once fully operational, the plant will have an annual capacity of 55 million pounds of copper wire. Operations are slated to begin in September 2025.

Founded in 2004 and based in Istanbul, Mega Metal employs more than 700 people worldwide and exports to over 30 countries. The company is recognized as one of Turkey’s top 500 industrial enterprises and has earned accolades such as “Supplier of the Year” from international customers. Its expansion into South Carolina is part of a broader strategy to enhance its global footprint and provide logistical advantages to clients in critical industries.

“This investment in Fairfield County is not only a manufacturing milestone—it is a reflection of our long-term commitment to the North American market,” said Cuneyt Turgut, board chairman of Mega Metal Inc. “Mega Metal is poised to become a key player in the U.S. supply chain, offering strategic support to high-demand industries across the continent.”

The company reported online that it had good interaction with attendees at Interwire 2025. “The meaningful conversations and connections we made throughout the event have not only opened doors to new collaborations but also reaffirmed that we are on the right path.