wiredInUSA November 2017

Fiber network plans

Verizon’s plans for an expansive fiber network have led Prysmian to initiate a $15 million expansion of its Lexington County plant. The expansion will enable the company to fulfill a $300 million contract with Verizon to supply nearly 11 million miles of ribbon and loose tube cables. Prysmian already has three telecom production sites in the US, two to produce optical cable and one for optical fiber. The Lexington County expansion is only part of a North American investment. On completion, the facility will become Prysmian’s top producer of fiber cable in the world, and will complement two

additional South Carolina investments that the company announced earlier this year. “Over the years, the manufacturing industry has grown dramatically throughout the state of South Carolina, creating a unique ecosystem in our region that attracts top-tier talent,” said Hakan Ozmen, CEO of Prysmian Group North America. The contract with Prysmian was the second major optical cable and component deal signed by Verizon. In April, the company signed a $1.1 billion, three-year fiber and hardware purchase agreement with Corning. Verizon will purchase up to 12.4 million miles of optical fiber each year from 2018 to 2020.

wiredInUSA - November 2017

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