NEC targets undersea‑cable market with new ultra‑high‑capacity fiber
Japan's NEC Corporation announced on 10 May that it is developing a next‑generation optical fiber designed to boost the capacity of future undersea cable systems. The technology, which the company says can transmit up to 1.6 Tbps per wavelength, is aimed at securing a foothold in the increasingly competitive global submarine‑cable market as demand for cross‑border data traffic soars.
The move comes amid a wave of new cable projects linking East Asia‑Pacific hubs to Europe and North America, where telecom operators are scrambling to keep pace with surging cloud and video‑streaming traffic. Japan, traditionally a strong player in cable manufacturing, has seen rivals such as China Telecom and European consortia expand their fiber‑optic offerings, prompting NEC to seek a technical edge.
Nikkei Asia reports that NEC's research arm, NEC Advanced Technology, has already completed field trials of the fiber in the Pacific Ocean and is in talks with major cable consortiums, including the Asia‑Pacific Cable Consortium (APCC). An NEC spokesperson said, “Our high‑capacity fiber will enable cable operators to double the bandwidth of existing routes without laying additional cables.” Industry analyst Hiroshi Tanaka of IDC Japan added, “If NEC can commercialise this technology quickly, it could capture a sizable share of the next generation of 25‑plus‑terabit systems.”
Experts say the development reflects broader trends of diversification in Japan’s telecom equipment sector, which has been dominated by legacy players like Fujitsu and Nippon Telegraph. “Japan needs to innovate beyond traditional EM‑conductor solutions,” noted Professor Yuki Saito of the University of Tokyo’s Department of Electrical Engineering. The new fiber could also position NEC to benefit from upcoming government‑backed projects, such as the “Broadband for All” initiative slated for rollout in 2027.
The next step for NEC is to secure commercial contracts, with a potential pilot slated for the “East‑West” cable linking Tokyo and Los Angeles in late 2026. Observers will watch whether the firm can meet production timelines and pricing targets, as any delay could cede market share to rivals. The performance of the upcoming pilot will likely determine NEC’s bargaining power in future consortium negotiations.