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.

Sweden’s Axjo Group is expanding the scope of its reel business market by opening a new production facility in Haltom City, Texas.

A press release said that the company plans to begin production at its new 160,586-sq-ft facility, located just outside Fort Worth, in January. The site will support the full U.S. product portfolio, mirroring operations at Axjo’s North Carolina plant. Production of spools and larger cable reels, starting at 30 in. and up, will open doors to new business opportunities across the North American market. The expansion into Texas further strengthens Axjo’s presence in North America and reinforces its role in the global supply chain. The facility will start with 30 employees.

“This is a natural next step for Axjo Group,” said Axjo Group Owner Jacob Nilsson. “We’re clearly seeing a shift in the U.S. market demand for our sustainable cable spools and reels that is growing rapidly. ... it’s only natural to be where our customers are, with local production and a strong presence.”

“Establishing a second U.S. site is a major milestone for us,” said Tim Schultz, CEO of Axjo America. “This expansion brings us closer to our customers in the Southwest and unlocks new opportunities to deliver locally produced, high-performance cable spools and reels with lower environmental impact. It’s a win for business, for the planet, but most of all, for our customers.”

Beyon, a Bahrain-based digital infrastructure provider, announced that it has chosen SubCom to provide the cable for Khaleej North, an 800-km submarine cable system that will further expand the existing Al Khaleej Cable by connecting Bahrain with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq.

Per a report at bizbahrain.com, the project will expand Beyon’s existing Al Khaleej Cable, which SubCom originally supplied and currently operates. Beyon is a Bahrain-based digital infrastructure provider focused on delivering advanced connectivity solutions across the Gulf region. The new Khaleej North cable will link Bahrain with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. It will also connect into the SEA-ME-WE 6 system, a 21,700-km high-capacity submarine network linking Bahrain with 14 countries across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Beyon Chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa described the partnership with SubCom as “strategic and essential” to Bahrain’s digital economy ambitions. “Enhancing our connectivity with greater speed capacity and resilience is vital to building a strong digital foundation,” he said.

SubCom CEO David Coughlan said that the Khaleej North cable will meet rising demand from hyperscalers enterprises cloud providers and government entities by strengthening network resilience and data exchange pathways.