In the rapidly evolving world of telecommunications, Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (YOFC) company has emerged as a global leader. At the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, we had the opportunity to speak with Dr Zhuang Dan, executive director and president of YOFC, about the company’s international expansion, innovative product offerings, and strategies for the future.
Manny Pham (MP): Dr Zhuang, could you share a brief history of YOFC’s journey in the fibre optic industry?
Zhuang Dan (ZD): Certainly. YOFC began by utilising Philips technology to manufacture optical fibre preforms and cables. Initially, we focused on meeting domestic demand in China, dedicating the first 10 to 20 years to the local market. This foundation allowed us to refine our products and establish a strong presence at home.
MP: This is your second year at MWC Barcelona, traditionally attending MWC Shanghai. What prompted this shift, and what new products are you showcasing here?
ZD: This change aligns with our internationalisation strategy initiated a decade ago. We’ve expanded overseas, establishing eight manufacturing bases across six countries. Currently, our international operations contribute to one-third of our total sales revenue, reflecting significant growth. To support this, we’ve opened over 50 sales offices outside China, with more than 20% of our staff now based internationally. Attending MWC Barcelona enhances our global platform and engagement.
At this year’s MWC, we’re focusing on five key areas: 5G Advanced Connectivity, AI Intelligent Computing Center, Internet of Energy, Intelligent Traffic, and Enjoy Digital Life. Notably, we’re introducing the MaxBand OM4 Pro Bending Insensitive Multimode Fibre. This fibre ensures smooth upgrades to 400G, 800G, and higher data rates for data centres while being fully backwards compatible with legacy OM4 and OM5 fibres.
Additionally, we’ve developed optical cables with reduced diameters, allowing higher fibre density within the same cable size. Our G.654.E optical fibre complies with or exceeds the ITU recommendations, offering lower attenuation and a larger effective area, which are crucial for next-generation optical transmission networks.
MP: Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic. How is YOFC integrating AI into its products?
ZD: We’ve incorporated AI considerations into our hollow-core fibre, which offers reduced latency and higher transmission speeds, essential for advanced AI and supercomputing applications.
Something to note, is that it is seldom to find companies that are able to design and manufacture hollow-core fibre. YOFC is one of the few, reflecting our many intensive years of R&D investment.
Our MaxBand OM4 Pro fibre is also designed to meet the high-bandwidth demands of AI data centres, ensuring efficient data transmission and processing.
MP: Could you elaborate on your strategy for overseas production and marketing?
ZD: Transitioning from a domestic to an international company, we’ve established manufacturing bases in Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Poland, Mexico, and Germany. For instance, our factory in Poland, located 80 kilometres from Warsaw, is a primary supplier of optical cables in the region. These facilities enable us to deliver products promptly, maintain quality, and provide excellent service to local markets.
MP: Are there plans to further expand your production footprint?
ZD: Currently, we’ve established production bases on every major continent, allowing us to meet local demands effectively. We don’t have immediate plans for further expansion at this stage, as our existing facilities sufficiently support our global operations.
MP: Reflecting on your international expansion, how has the contribution of overseas sales evolved?
ZD: In 2014, the first year of our international strategy, overseas sales accounted for less than 8% of our total revenue. Over the past decade, this figure has grown to 33%, highlighting the success of our global initiatives.
MP: What marketing strategies are you employing to further boost your international business?
ZD: Participating in influential platforms like MWC is crucial for branding and marketing. Our presence here allows us to engage with local customers and partners, showcasing our products and technologies. The positive feedback we’ve received reinforces our commitment to these events. Moving forward, we’ll continue to leverage such opportunities to deepen our internationalisation strategy, aiming for overseas sales to become our largest revenue contributor.
MP: Can you share any successful case studies with your international customers?
ZD: Certainly. We introduced our G.654.E fibre, known as FarBand Ultra, to Brazilian telecom operators. This fibre features ultra-low loss and a large effective area, enhancing transmission efficiency. Our local production base in Sao Paulo facilitated seamless collaboration, leading to high customer satisfaction and improved network performance.
Through strategic international expansion and innovative product development, YOFC continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in the fibre optic industry, committed to enhancing connectivity worldwide.
