Prysmian-led joint venture to acquire Xtera, expanding end-to-end submarine capabilities

Prysmian has signed an agreement, through a joint venture with Fincantieri, to acquire Xtera Topco Limited, a UK and US-based specialist in turnkey submarine telecom systems. The move marks a meaningful step forward in strengthening Prysmian’s position across the global submarine telecoms landscape.

The acquisition of Xtera from an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, LLC will be executed via the joint venture, with Prysmian holding an 80% stake and Fincantieri 20%. Alongside the transaction, Prysmian and Fincantieri are further aligning their installation, security and subsea capabilities, broadening the scope of what they can deliver together across the full lifecycle of submarine telecom projects.

Submarine telecom cables are increasingly recognised as strategic infrastructure, supporting rising data demand driven by AI adoption, expanding data centres and hyperscalers, and the need for resilient regional and long-haul connectivity. Security remains central, combining Prysmian’s monitoring systems, installation experience and cable production capabilities with Fincantieri’s strength in integrated underwater and unmanned solutions.

Headquartered in London, Xtera is one of only five companies worldwide able to deliver subsea telecom networks at scale. Its proprietary technology, strong commercial performance and advanced R&D facilities in the UK and Texas add further depth to the joint venture’s footprint across Europe and the US.

From a material handling and industrial execution perspective, the transaction also highlights the growing importance of precision logistics, asset movement and vessel-based installation in delivering complex subsea infrastructure safely and efficiently.

The transaction, with an enterprise value of $65 million, remains subject to regulatory approvals, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2026.

I find this an interesting and informative update as we move towards the end of the year, reflecting how infrastructure, security and technology are becoming ever more interconnected across industries.