Fiber optic firm sees big growth opportunities ahead

Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company, a global leader in optical communication, is bolstering the development of the optoelectronics industry and helping build Wuhan, Hubei province, into a technological innovation hub.

Jan Bongaerts, senior vice-president of the company, said its optical fiber networks have advantages such as large transmission capacity, ultralow latency and cover a long distance, and are of vital importance in accelerating digital transformation in industries including logistics, transportation, healthcare, mining and education.

Bongaerts said the explosive growth of remote working, cloud gaming, artificial intelligence and virtual reality, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased demand for bandwidth and optical fiber.

The digital economy is thriving as a major driver of GDP growth in many countries, and optical fiber networks are regarded as the best choice for digital economy infrastructure.

"We are very active in telecom and data centers, submarine cables and recently also in semiconductors," Bongaerts said.

Established in 1988 in Wuhan, the company saw its revenue reach $2.01 billion last year. It has more than 10,000 employees and has offered products and services to over 90 countries and regions.

The company has been instrumental in the early stages of developing China's communication network. It has supplied 40 percent of the fiber optic cables utilized in the construction of China's vast communication network, Bongaerts said, adding the company has mastered three key technologies for manufacturing optical fibers.

He underlined that the company is striving to promote technological innovation and advance the development of a globally competitive optical communication industry cluster within the Optics Valley of China in Wuhan.

In 2017, it established the world's largest, most technologically advanced facility for optical fiber in Qianjiang, Hubei province.

In addition, it has stepped up its push to expand in overseas markets. It has six overseas production bases for cable and fiber and over 50 offices abroad, in an effort to export innovative solutions and advanced technologies to the world and to build a high-quality optical fiber network to enhance digital connectivity and enrich the digital lifestyle.

Looking ahead, Bongaerts said the company remains committed to innovation and growth, aiding the city in its quest to become a significant center for technology innovation in China.