Russia Launches New Production of Underwater Optical Cables
They will be able to operate even in the harsh conditions of the Arctic, improving connectivity quality in the most remote regions of the country.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Russia continues its efforts to bridge the digital divide, with reliable high-speed connectivity being a key goal. This requires thousands of kilometers of optical cables, which must be laid not only on land but also underwater. Submarine cables are particularly in demand for the northern latitudes and the Russian Far East.
Recently, the Perm-based plant Incab announced the start of production of a new line of submarine optical cables. These are designed to build reliable digital infrastructure, including in remote parts of the country such as Arctic and Far Eastern coastal areas, where terrestrial connectivity is often unavailable.
Multiple Layers of Protection
The new product line includes a wide range of cables for different conditions. Lightweight, unarmored cables are ideal for deep-water installation, where the risk of damage from passing ships is minimal. Such cables can provide stable, high-speed connectivity at depths of up to 4,000 meters.
Coastal areas are the most vulnerable, as cables are exposed to mechanical damage from anchors, trawls, and other maritime infrastructure. For these areas, Incab offers maximally protected armored designs, with one or even two layers of protection.
Additionally, the design can incorporate a copper conductor to power remote signal amplifiers.
Localized Production
One major advantage of the new production is its full localization.
“Production is localized in Russia—from raw materials to finished products. Cables are supplied in ready-made segments up to 50 km long, reducing the number of connections and increasing line reliability. Shipments are made directly from the sea terminal in Slavyanka, Primorsky Krai,” Incab’s press service reported.
Notably, Incab quickly restructured its supply chains. Until 2022, the plant sourced most of its optical fiber from the US-based Corning Incorporated. When Western companies began leaving the Russian market, the plant switched to products from Optic Fiber Systems, a domestic manufacturer. This company is now actively developing new production for cable components, particularly quartz preforms used to draw fiber. For now, these are supplied from friendly countries.
Demand Is Assured
There is no doubt that Incab’s new products will find customers. Demand for submarine optical cables in Russia is growing steadily, driven by several large-scale projects.
The Polar Express project envisions a 12,650 km fiber-optic link connecting Murmansk and Vladivostok via the shortest route between Europe and Asia. The Kamchatka–Sakhalin–Magadan project is a submarine fiber-optic system running from Okha on Sakhalin to the Magadan region and Kamchatka Krai, totaling about 2,000 km, with a maximum capacity of 400 Gbit/s per direction. Plans are underway to expand capacity to 8 Tbit/s.
Another project, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky–Anadyr, is a submarine fiber-optic line laid in the coastal waters of the Bering Sea, 2,173 km long with a capacity of 100 Gbit/s.
If Incab’s products prove reliable in real-world conditions, they could eventually become a significant export item for Russia. Reliable submarine cables are needed in CIS countries, the Caspian Basin, the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond.
The launch of submarine optical cable production is another major step toward eliminating Russia’s digital divide. This high-quality product can operate even in extreme Arctic conditions, ensuring high demand domestically and internationally.
