Press Releases

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

Fujikura will continue to contribute to the development of a 5G society, reducing environmental impact, and an advanced information society by continuously developing innovative products through the business of information and communication infrastructure.


[Explanation of terms]
*1 Spider Web Ribbon ^(R) (SWR ^(R)) is a Fujikura unique technology that allows for high-density mounting in cables due to its high flexibility, contributing to thinner and higher density.
*2 Wrapping Tube Cable ^(R) (WTC ^(R)) is the name of a thin-diameter, high-density Optical Fiber ribbon cable with SWR ^(R) implemented. It can significantly reduce the construction period compared to traditional Fiber Optic Cable.
(Fujikura SWR ^(R) /WTC ^(R) Special Website: https://swrwtc.fujikura.jp/wrapping-tube-cable )
*3 Concession refers to the sale of the operating rights to a private business while retaining the ownership of the facilities to the public institution that collects tolls, such as highways, airports, and water and sewerage. PPP (Public Private Partnerships) is a form of PPP that has become popular in Europe and the United States.
*4 BAI Communications is a global leader in shared communications infrastructure, with business deployments in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, and the United States. As a long-time leader in network advancements, we will work closely with our customers through the acceleration from 4G/LTE to 5G powered by Optical Fiber to realize their communications vision and create smart communities for all.