The Decline of the Optical Fiber Cable Industry
The optical fibre and cable market is shifting in several directions at once. In 2025, AI-driven data centre investment rapidly emerged as the strongest driver of growth, while traditional telecom demand softened in several markets. " These include Yangtze Fiber Optic and FiberHome Communications in Central China, and Hengtong Optics, Zhongtian Technology, and Futong Group in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Market Size by Fiber Type (Glass Fibers, Plastic Optical Fibers), by Cable Type (Single-mode, Multi-Mode), by Deployment (Underground, Aerial, Underwater) by End User & Forecast. Optical fiber is superior to traditional copper cables in a multitude of ways, including nearly unlimited bandwidth, improved durability, and being virtually future-proof, and Corning has played a leading role making it easier and more cost-effective to deploy. In August, Incab America, a Texan maker of fiber-optic cable, notified customers that "a significant fiber shortage is emerging" in a statement signed by Mike Riddle, its president, who blamed data centers for "sucking up all the fiber production capacity.
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