C&W and NEC to co-operate
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Cable and Wireless has linked up with NEC to exchange information on communications technology and marketing in a deal designed to boost both companies' share of the fast-growing telecoms market in the Far East.
Although NEC spoke confidently about the deal enabling the two companies to share visions of the future of the telecoms market, C&W played down the link. "It is just one of a number of corporate relationships,''a spokesman said. "It does not tie us to any one supplier.'' C&W shares rose 12p to 391p.
The Japanese maker of communications equipment and the UK telecoms company have already started swapping information on satellite systems.
They will now look at ways of jointly providing telecoms exchange equipment and boosting their share of the Asian mobile telephone market.
C&W will be able to use NEC's production plant in Malaysia and China. NEC hopes the link-up will boost its European sales. NEC said it had so far received orders worth 100bn yen (£635m) from C&W.
C&W is one of the most active Western telecommunications companies in Asia, and all are struggling to get a firmer foothold in China and other emerging markets.
An NEC spokeswoman said C&W would share information on future telecoms projects, while the Japanese company would share its technology. She said: "The agreement is not aimed at simply supplying our equipment to C&W. We hope to share future visions in thetelecommunications business through the agreement."
A C&W spokesman said no money would change hands.
Eric Gann, telecommunications analyst at Goldman Sachs, said: "With Japan's market reaching saturation many domestic telecommunication equipment makers are looking for opportunities to expand in Asia, where infrastructures still lag behind."
NEC, which has a telecommunications equipment plant in China, makes products ranging from switchboards to satellite stations and has expertise in laying fibre-optic cables. C&W owns 57.5 per cent of Hong Kong's biggest communications company, Hongkong Telecommunications.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments