Prysmian receives raw material, being fine glass fibre, from a supplier. The company first coats the fibre using colour-coded string and then bundles the coated strands in a particular way to make up fibre-optic cables.

Colour coding is especially useful when terminating or splicing fibre. The colours help technicians to ensure they are splicing like-for-like fibres.

Here a Dee Why plant operator inputs string to the optical-fibre colouring line so that the fibre may be colour coated.

Drums of buffered fibre tubes wait to be stranded for cables. The finished product will be termite resistant, rodent proof and strong, according to the company.

Mike Quigley walks past the optical fibre being stranded for cables.

Quigley addresses the factory workers.

"This contract not only ensures the future stability and growth of Prysmian, but also that of our suppliers and distributors who are located around the country," incoming Prysmian CEO Llyr Roberts said in a statement.

"We expect the flow on employment effect could be as high as 2:1, with extra jobs being created in transport and logistics, training and administration."

Quigley sits with Gian Ludovico de Martino di Montegiordano, Italian ambassador to Australia, and Roberts. Prysmian is an Italian-owned company listed on the country's stock exchange.