Google has announced a collaborative effort with CTC Global to help accelerate grid upgrades across the United States by funding deployment of advanced transmission conductors.

A press release said that the joint move seeks to expand power capacity in regions where Google’s growth in data centers is heightening electricity requirements, aiming to improve reliability and support renewable integration. CTC Global’s ACCC conductors have been used in more than 1,350 projects spanning 65 countries to upgrade transmission lines in strategic U.S. markets.

“Expanding transmission capacity presents a significant opportunity for the power system today,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s global head of data center energy. She noted that by accelerating reconductoring, the project could “dramatically cut the time and cost of adding and moving electricity to reliably power American homes and businesses.”

South Korea’s LS Cable & System (LS C&S) announced that it has completed construction of its fifth submarine cable plant in Donghae-si, Gangwon-do, expanding its HVDC (high-voltage direct current) submarine cable production capacity by more than four times.

A press release said that with the expansion, LS Cable & System has the largest HVDC cable production facility in Asia and has greatly enhanced its competitiveness in large-scale global projects. “Combined with the recent decision by affiliate LS Marine Solution to build a dedicated HVDC cable laying vessel, the completion of this facility is expected to be an opportunity for LS Cable & System to fully establish its turnkey performance capabilities, which encompass everything from production to construction.”

The addition of a vertical continuous vulcanization (VCV) line to the fifth submarine cable plant has significantly improved production competitiveness and supply stability for submarine cables. The HVDC cable market is growing, “but due to the high level of technical difficulty and the need for large-scale infrastructure, other than LS Cable & System, there are only a few manufacturers in Europe and Japan that can supply these cables.” For long-distance HVDC construction, a dedicated cable laying vessel of 10,000 tons or more is essential, so only companies with both production and construction capabilities can meet global demand, it said.

Of note, LS C&S’s affiliate, LS Marine Solution, recently announced the construction of a dedicated HVDC cable laying vessel with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons. This vessel will allow the company not only to manufacture long-length cable in-house but also to transport and install it worldwide, a critical advantage in the global HVDC market.

JDR Cable Systems (JDR), part of the TFKable Group, has secured a service contract from Indian multinational Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to test umbilical cables for offshore operations in the Middle East.

A press release said that the contract, which starts in the second quarter of this year, covers testing of 14 umbilical cables across multiple platforms under two major scopes of work. The project will involve critical pre-deployment and integration testing, as well as monitoring during lay operations.

JDR will provide offshore equipment, experienced technicians, and technical support, with the work managed from its U.K. service center in Newcastle. Multiple staff rotations offshore are planned to support the testing and installation phases.

“This contract reflects the strength of our service offering and the ability of our team to deliver technically complex work in the Middle East,” said Alan Combe, EMEA service sales manager for JDR. “It’s a region full of opportunity and an important part of our long-term focus.”

JDR Chief Sales Officer Carl Pilmer added that the company sees continued opportunity in the Middle East. “As we consolidate our presence, this project is a good example of how we’re supporting customers with reliable and high-quality service delivery.

ArcelorMittal will divest its Bosnia-Herzegovina operations—including the Zenica steelworks and Prijedor iron ore mine—to the locally based Pavgord Group.

A press release said that the company cited ongoing global steel market volatility and years of investment as key reasons behind the sale. The company has operated in Bosnia for 21 years and has invested significantly in the facilities. A Reuters report said that the Bosnian operations have faced challenges, including losses in 2023 and 2024 due to declining steel demand in Europe. The company closed its coke plant in Zenica in 2024, citing rising production costs and lower demand.

The transaction will see roughly 2,700 employees, across both facilities, retained by Pavgord. The agreement is scheduled to close in the third quarter of 2025.

ArcelorMittal Zenica operates with an annual production capacity close to 1 million tons and employs over 2,000 people. The factory is an integrated facility with steelmaking and finishing operations, supplying billets, wire rods, and wires, among other products

Of note, Zenica was described as the largest producer of long products in the Balkans. It set a wire rod production record in January 2023 when it produced 43,200 tons, topping the prior record in March 2022 of 41,700 tons.

“Sol,” a new transatlantic subsea cable designed to enhance global connectivity by directly linking Florida with Europe.

A press release said that Sol will run parallel to Google’s previously announced Nuvem subsea cable, which connects South Carolina, Bermuda, the Azores, and Portugal. Unlike Nuvem, Sol will include a landing point at Google’s new Palm Coast Cable Landing Station (CLS) in Florida, expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2027.

Google notes that Sol will be the only in-service, private fiber-optic cable running directly between Florida and Europe once launched. It is being manufactured in the U.S. and will support Google’s global data infrastructure, which includes 42 cloud regions. The name of the cable supplier was not included, but SubCom, based in the U.S., has supplied four projects that included Google.

Google described the Sol cable as boosting network capacity, reliability, and latency improvements for global users, although no specific technical specifications have been disclosed.

While the concept of undersea cables is well established, the pace of deployment is accelerating as tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta invest heavily in building dedicated infrastructure to support cloud growth, AI-powered applications, and network resilience. Globally, Google has participated in more than 30 subsea cable projects—as owner, partner or investor—including recent systems such as Equiano (Europe to Africa), Firmina (U.S. to South America), and Grace Hopper (U.S. to the U.K. and Spain). Reports say the surge reflects a broader trend for leading tech companies increasingly prioritizing direct control over critical data routes to meet rising demand and ensure reliable global connectivity.