Sterlite to double optical fiber manufacturing capacity

November 12, 2007, Pune, India--Sterlite Technologies, India's only global provider and integrated manufacturer of optical fiber, will double its optical fiber annual manufacturing capacity to 12 million kilometers from its current capacity of 6 million kilometers. This expansion, at the company's existing facilities at Aurangabad, India, is estimated to incur a CapEx of INR 140 Crores (US$ 35 million), and commercial production is expected to commence by June 2009.

Sterlite said it is in advanced stages of discussion with leading global manufacturing equipment and raw material suppliers to streamline its effort towards the expansion project milestones.

Sterlite is a market leader in India, currently supplying more than 45% of the country's demand and more than 4% of the global demand for optical fiber. The expanded capacity would primarily cater to the growing demand from the Indian market and also enable the company to grow its global market share.