Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiary SEI Trading India Pvt. Ltd. (SETI) on June 1 announced the signing of a long-term fusion splicer supply agreement with Indian communications service provider TATA Communications Transformation Services Ltd. (TCTS).

TCTS is a major Indian communications service provider who has not only expanded its business into consigned construction and maintenance of mobile phone networks, but also taken part in the official "Smart Cities Mission" launched by the Indian government.  

The Smart Cities Mission is a project for developing futuristic cities across India making use of optical communication networks. Launched by the Indian government in June 2015, the project has since been strongly promoted by carriers in the country. 

Along with Sumitomo, TCTS is now playing an important role in establishing information and communication networks in India. Optical network installation work in India is often carried out in harsh dusty environments at high temperatures (50°C) and high humidity (90%), while also requiring much travel from one site to another over rough terrain.  

TCTS reports that it had an urgent challenge to improve its work efficiency under such harsh environments. The service provider thus evaluated Sumitomo Electric's direct core monitoring fusion splicers, for the tools' high environmental resistance, strong structure to withstand vibration and shock, and superb-loss splicing performance, The new partners then reached a two-year supply agreement through Sumitomo's Indian distributor INVAS Technologies Pvt. Ltd. for the product. 

TCTS has already started installation work for optical communication networks using Sumitomo's fusion splicers. It is expected that Sumitomo's fusion splicers and SETI's maintenance and technical support will help speed the Smart Cities Mission project and other construction work for mobile phone networks.