Kuwait’s first fibre optic cable factory opens in Port of Abdullah

• The establishment of Kuwait’s first fiber optic factory is crucial for the country’s telecom sector, as the state replaces copper cables with faster, more secure optical ones.

• The factory spans 5,000 square meters, with an initial capacity of 500,000 kilometers of fiber annually and an investment of $15-20 million.

Ziad Al-Najem, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, representing minister Khalifa Abdullah Ajeel, inaugurated the Taihan Kuwait Company factory on Monday. The factory, located in the Port of Abdullah Industrial area, is Kuwait’s first facility for manufacturing fibre optic cables, a key component of modern communication systems and internet networks, as reported by Q8-Press.

Al-Najem said in a press statement after the inauguration ceremony that this type of factory is considered one of the qualitative advancements in the country, especially since the state is currently working on replacing copper cables with optical ones due to their superior ability to connect and speed in transferring information and data securely.

He emphasized that the ministry will not hesitate to support and facilitate the procedures for such factories, in line with the “New Kuwait 2035” vision, which aims to transform Kuwait into a regional and international financial and commercial hub that attracts investment.

In his speech during the ceremony, Abdullah Al-Ajmi, Acting Chairman of the General Authority for Communications and Information Technology, stated that “the establishment of the factory is a pivotal step in the development of the telecommunications sector in Kuwait.” He emphasized that this move aligns with the country’s national development plan and its policy of encouraging value-added industrial investments.

Al-Ajmi added that “the factory will address the growing needs of customers, ensuring that communities are equipped with the necessary tools to thrive in the digital age. It will also contribute to diversifying income sources, providing job opportunities for nationals, transferring technology, and attracting sustainable foreign investments.”

For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Taihan Kuwait Company, Atallah Al-Mutairi, in a similar speech, emphasized the importance of fibre optic cables as the backbone of modern communication systems, highlighting their enormous capacity to transmit data at tremendous speeds, over long distances, and with great capacity.

Al-Mutairi added that the factory covers an area of 5,000 square meters, with an initial production capacity of about 500,000 kilometers of fibre per year, and an initial investment of $15-20 million.

In turn, His Excellency Chong-Suk Park, the Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea to Kuwait, during his participation in the ceremony, emphasized the strength of relations between his country and Kuwait, noting the contribution of Korean companies to Kuwaiti economic development through major projects such as the Al-Zour refinery.

He stated that “the fibre optic cable factory will have the ability to expand into international markets, and optical fibre will connect Kuwait to high-speed Internet, contributing to the support of the “New Kuwait 2035” vision.”

For his part, the CEO of the parent company “Taihan Cable and Solution of Korea,” Jong Min Song, explained in a speech that the establishment of “Taihan Kuwait” was aimed at locally producing fibre optic cables, which were previously fully imported.

Jong Min Song said the company will contribute to strengthening the country’s information and communications industry, noting that after three years of preparation, the company is now ready to begin operations.

He added that Taihan Kuwait will produce fibre optic cables of the highest quality, create new jobs, and plans to expand into neighboring GCC countries, which will contribute to the development of the industry in Kuwait.

Song emphasized that the company will do its best to share technology and provide both human and material resources to enhance its competitiveness in the global market.

Optical fibre or optical cables are made from pure glass and are as thin as a human hair. Light technology is used to transmit large amounts of data at high speeds through optical pulses, with less signal loss compared to copper cables.

Taihan Kuwait Fibre Optic Cables Company was established in January 2021 as a Kuwaiti limited liability company with joint capital from Taihan Cable & Solution of South Korea and Rank General Trading and Contracting Company, creating the first Kuwaiti factory in the Mina Abdullah Industrial Area for the manufacture of fibre optic cables.