Xie Shuhong, chief engineer of ZTT Group in Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province, played a key role in the "Key Technologies and Applications of Ultra Long Span Optical Communication in Extreme Environment" project, which won the second prize of the National Technology Invention Award in 2025.

This was told from the state science and technology awarding meeting held on July 8 in Beijing.

This also marks the company's second time receiving this accolade.

A panorama view of ZTT Group. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

The project was jointly undertaken by Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and other research partners. It focused on the demand for ultra-long-span optical communication in extreme environments and achieved major breakthroughs in core mechanisms, key equipment, and engineering applications, establishing a complete and independently controllable technology system.

The outcomes have been stably operating in the live networks of telecom operators and have been widely applied in China's plateau regions and surrounding sea areas, effectively supporting the construction of national information infrastructure.

As part of the project, Xie proposed a low-loss optical cable structure resistant to extreme conditions, along with precision-controlled manufacturing methods for high-strength materials and long-distance continuous production, which enhanced the tensile resistance, compression strength, and low-temperature tolerance of power communication optical fiber cables and submarine optical cables.

As the top national science award established by China's State Council, the accolade went to 258 projects and 11 technology experts in 2025.