Everyone was shocked again. Fiber optic cables are very expensive. How much money would it cost to lay a fiber optic network across the country, especially if it were to reach every household?
Seeing the astonished expressions on the leaders' faces, Zhao Ye explained, "Fiber to the home is the ultimate goal. For now, telephone lines can be used to replace fiber optics, but this will result in slower internet speeds."
Minister Huo Xingwei quickly said, "It's okay to go slowly, let's proceed step by step! By the way, Zhao Ye, tell us your conditions!"
"My condition is very simple: allow Wujiang Group to operate as an ISP (Internet Service Provider) in China, that is, an internet operator!" Zhao Ye said slowly, "and to have a 20-year monopoly!"
With such a large investment, Wujiang Group naturally expects a return.
The purpose of laying fiber optic cables is to provide a comprehensive range of internet access, information, and value-added services to a wide range of users, thereby establishing Wujiang Group's monopoly advantage in the Chinese internet market.
Wujiang Group has directly monopolized the internet gateway, so how can other companies compete?
Furthermore, Wujiang Group is also developing a chain of internet cafes, which makes it difficult for other internet companies to compete in the future.
Even the Hell difficulty level isn't this hard!
Moreover, this model can be applied to other countries, especially Southeast Asian countries. No money to develop your network? No problem, Wujiang Group will help you. That's how generous we are!
Moreover, the profits from being an ISP (Internet Service Provider) are also enormous.
In the future, if Wujiang Group can obtain a mobile communication license, it can become a full-service operator like China Telecom in its previous life.
However, this is probably difficult, as the mobile communications market is monopolized by state-owned enterprises and they will not easily issue licenses to private enterprises.
Right now, while the world is still somewhat unaware of the internet's importance, Zhao Ye is willing to invest over $10 billion to secure a position as an ISP (Internet Service Provider) internet operator! In Zhao Ye's view, this is an incredibly worthwhile deal, provided he can monopolize the ISP market in China…
In its previous life, AOL was an ISP company. Leveraging the advantages of an ISP, AOL's many businesses developed rapidly. In 2000, AOL merged with Time Warner in a deal worth $166 billion!
Minister Huo Xingwei instinctively felt that a 20-year monopoly was too long, and handing over the monopoly rights of the internet to a private enterprise was a serious violation of regulations. However, the problem is that Wujiang Group invested $10 billion in building the internet; without a monopoly, it might not be able to recoup its costs. They can't expect people to operate at a loss.
Minister Huo Xingwei was somewhat troubled.
"Zhao Ye, the issue of Wujiang Group's monopoly on ISPs still needs to be discussed and studied in a meeting. Today's conversation ends here. We will talk to you again after we have made a decision."
"Okay, no problem."
Zhao Ye nodded and stood up to see everyone off.
Upon returning to the company, Zhao Ye immediately notified the investment department to acquire Corning Incorporated.
Optical fiber in communications is primarily made of glass fiber, and Corning Incorporated is a leader in this field, having developed highly advanced optical fiber products. However, none of the optical fiber products on the market satisfied Zhao Ye.
Wujiang Group is planning to lay fiber optic cables on a large scale in China. If the fiber optic cables are of poor quality, it will be a waste of money.
At this moment, Zhao Ye remembered that Corning Incorporated was a well-known American technology company that had been awarded the "National Medal of Technology" by the President of the United States.
Is Wujiang Group capable of acquiring such an American company?
Zhao Ye decided to give it a try. If it didn't work out, so be it. He could always poach people to develop optical fibers himself. Although China's development in the field of optical fibers was weaker than that of the United States and Japan, it was not bad either.
In August 1974, Academician Zhao Zisen proposed a quartz fiber optic communication technology solution. Lacking technology, equipment, and personnel, Zhao Zisen embarked on China's fiber optic research and development. After nearly three years of effort, China's first practical, short-wavelength, step-index quartz fiber was finally born. At the "Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Industrial Exhibition on Learning from Daqing" held in 1977, Zhao Zisen successfully transmitted black-and-white television signals using the fiber he developed. Fiber optic communication was exceptionally listed as a key national research project. From then on, China's fiber optic communication technology entered a period of rapid development.
In its previous life, "Wuhan Optics Valley of China" was home to the largest production base for optical fibers, optical cables and optoelectronic devices in China, as well as the largest R&D base for optical communication technology. It was a landmark brand for China to participate in international competition in the field of optoelectronic information.
After thinking it over, Zhao Ye decided to have someone invite Academician Zhao Zisen over to lead the development of Boundless Fiber Optics! At the same time, they also needed to continue recruiting talent!
Furthermore, the optical glass and filter materials used in Zeiss products primarily come from the Schott Jena glass factory. After World War II, the Schott glass factory was split into two: one in Jena, East Germany, and the other in Mainz, West Germany.
It is worth mentioning that East Zeiss wholly owned Jena in East Germany, while West Zeiss wholly owned Mainz in West Germany.
A company that can supply glass to Zeiss must have incredibly advanced technology, no doubt about it.
Zhao Ye now thinks that after acquiring West Zeiss, he can fully control the Schott Jena glass factory. With the technology of the Schott Jena glass factory, plus the optical fiber experts he has hired, he may be able to develop advanced optical fibers!
In fact, the technology of the Schott Jena glass factory is more advanced than Corning's; it's just that the company is not currently involved in the fiber optic industry.
The following afternoon, Wujiang Group tentatively extended an acquisition offer to Corning Incorporated, but it was rejected outright.
At this time, Academician Zhao Zisen also received an invitation from Wujiang Group to serve as the chief engineer of Wujiang Fiber Optics.
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