press release
Start of delivery of Wrapping Tube Cable (WTC) to BAI Communications for the construction of London Underground's new 5G communications network
July 11, 2022
Fujikura Ltd.
Fujikura Ltd. (Director, President and CEO Okada Naoki) has announced that its Wrapping Tube Cable® (WTC ®*2 ), a Wrapping Tube Cable (WTC) Optical Fiber intermittently bonded Fiber Optic Cable core Spider Web Ribbon ® (SWR ® * 1), has been adopted as the optical fiber Wrapping Tube Cable™ necessary for the construction of an in-house 4G and 5G communications network for the London Underground, operated by Transport for London (TfL). Fujikura has begun deliveries to BAI Communications Pty. Ltd. *4 (headquarters: Australia), the concessionaire (operator of the right to operate public facilities, etc.) *3 business
The London Underground is one of the world's leading subway networks, with a total length of over 400 km, and with a total of 5 million users per day, it is a railway infrastructure with high social and public benefits as a major artery for London and the surrounding area. However, there are many requests to eliminate the lack of mobile phone and Wi-Fi coverage in subway stations and carriages, and there are hopes for the service to be launched soon.
BAI Communications signed a contract with Transport for London in 2020 to operate a new optical network. To complete the communications network by the end of 2024, the company plans to lay more than 2,000 km of cable and provide mobile phone and internet connections at all stations and lines on the London Underground. In this context, the adoption of Fujikura SWR ® /WTC ® Fiber Optic Cable will make a significant contribution to the development of the UK's information and communications infrastructure.
Adopted SWR ® /WTC ® strong point / feature of optical cables
- 12-fiber mass fusion splicing reduces splicing time and construction period
・Reducing CO2 emissions generated during manufacturing, transportation and installation by making the cable thinner and lighter
- Flame retardant, low smoke generation
Figure 1: Structure of Wrapping Tube Cable (WTC) (WTC Ⓡ) used
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Fujikura will continue to contribute to the development of a 5G society, environmental impact reduction, and advanced information society by continuously developing innovative products through the information and communication infrastructure business.
[Explanation of terms]
*1 Spider Web Ribbon (R) (SWR ®) is a proprietary technology of Fujikura that enables high-density mounting in cables due to its high flexibility, contributing to thinner diameters and higher densities.
*2 Wrapping Tube Cable (R) (WTC (R)) is the name of a thin-diameter, high-density Optical Fiber ribbon cable with SWR (R) mounted. It is possible to significantly shorten the construction period compared to conventional Fiber Optic Cable.
(Our SWR ® /WTC ® website: https://swrwtc.fujikura.jp/wrapping-tube-cable )
*3 A concession is the sale of the right to operate a public facility that involves toll collection, such as expressways, airports, water and sewage systems, to a private business while leaving ownership of the facility to the public institution that is the client. A form of PPP (Public Private Partnerships) that has become popular in Europe and the United States.
*4 BAI Communications is a global leader in shared telecommunications infrastructure with business deployed in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, and the United States. We have been at the forefront of network advancements for many years, working closely with our customers through the acceleration of 4G/LTE to 5G with Optical Fiber to realize their communications vision and create smart communities for all.
