Prysmian Group is relaunching optical fibre production in Italy and is focused on supporting the country’s development plans for the new ultra broadband telecommunication networks. The Group has completed its investment plan of almost €30 million in the centre of excellence in Battipaglia (Salerno) to boost its competitiveness. Innovation capacities and production process efficiency are the pillars of Prysmian’s competitive optical fibre strategy. The company now has some of the world’s most advanced production capability, technology and know-how.
“In Italy we have the know-how, the technology and the manufacturing capability to produce broadband telecommunication networks,” explains Hans Hoegstedt, CEO of Prysmian Italia. “Prysmian is the only fibre manufacturer in Italy. With us, the country can boast a prime leadership position in a strategic high-tech sector like optical fibre.“
Quality products
“The quality of Prysmian Group’s optical fibres and innovative cabling enables us to tackle the most difficult challenges and complete projects with innovative solutions. In addition, Prysmian possesses state-of-the-art technologies that allow
us to optimise solutions for various optical fibre applications. Moreover, Italy, with Prysmian, can boast many years of experience in projects around the world, in very diverse situations and legislative environments.”
“We can operate locally, accounting for regional differences, while bearing in mind the European and global situation. Because we directly follow and manage all phases of the production process in-house, from silica production to cable installation, our entire supply chain is secure, down to the last component producer. Only quality products can ensure future-proof networks.”
Global competition
“Thanks to the investments, the Battipaglia plant is now able to compete on the world market,” explained Nicola Scafuro, Manager of the Battipaglia plant. “The optical fibre sector is highly globalised and there is very strong competition from Asian and American manufacturers. Prysmian is committed to doing its best to remain competitive and also to maintaining a strategic technological stronghold in Italy.”
“New Generation Networks (NGNs) and the optical fibre used to create them are destined to become the infrastructure carrying the entire economic system, essential assets for developing the future competitiveness of Europe and, naturally, Italy. All services to citizens will be carried through the Network. The demand for high-quality optical fibre is therefore bound to grow exponentially in the next few years.”
Europe’s largest fibre plant
Prysmian Group also recently presented its renewed optical fibre production facility in Douvrin, France, following the completion of an important investment. This took place in a meeting with Antoines Darodes, Director of the French national organization Agence du Numérique - Mission Très Haut Débit. (See NExsT’s coverage of the ‘Plan THD’.)
The Group recently completed its investment of approximately €15m in the plant to increase its production capacity in order to match the growing market demand. These investments were co-funded by the French Government and local institutions, in a joint effort to increase European competitiveness.
With a total plant area of 155,000 m² and 348 employees, the Douvrin facility, one of 11 Prysmian plants in France, is the biggest European plant for fibre optic production. Prysmian Group can work with all existing manufacturing processes, including its proprietary plasma vapour deposition technologies. Every year this plant produces 25M km of fibre preforms, part of which is drawn into fibre on site. The remainder is exported and drawn elsewhere.
Philippe Vanhille, Executive Vice President, Telecom, Prysmian Group adds: “Mr. Darodes’ visit demonstrates how the entire supply chain is important for Agence du Numérique- Mission THD. From the very beginning - production of preforms and fibre - to the installation of high quality, very high bit rate optical networks in relation with local governments and telecom operators. This visit confirms the role of Prysmian Group as an active player in the debate on broadband deployment in Europe, while maintaining its commitment to innovation and remaining a leader in the optical fibre sector worldwide.”
New campaign promotes Italian optical fibre
To illustrate how Italy has all the technologies, know-how and production capability to develop broadband telecommunication network projects, the “L’Italia mostra la sua vera fibra” campaign was created. Watch the video here. For the website please click here.
Currently, around 300 million km of optical fibre is installed in communication networks each year. In 2006 this was a mere 95 million km, confirming optical fibre’s position as one of the highest growth sectors in the entire industry.
Prysmian Group is world leader in the sector of optical fibre cables for telecommunication networks. The Group produces approximately 30 million km of optical fibre a year at its 5 plants worldwide: Italy, France, the Netherlands, the USA and Brazil, including a good 9 million km in Italy. The optical fibre plant located in Battipaglia employs some 300 highly specialised staff and is the only optical fibre production facility in Italy.