PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1675260
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1675260
Fiber optic cables consist of insulated glass fiber strands and serve primarily as a telecommunications and computer networking medium. Additionally, they function as light guides, imaging tools, and lasers in medical surgeries, as well as wiring in aircraft, submarines, and various vehicles.
The main types of fiber optic cables are glass optical fiber and plastic optical fiber. Glass optical fibers typically comprise a pure glass core (SiO2) surrounded by cladding made of less pure glass or plastic. Primarily used in communication, sensors, and measurement systems, glass fibers excel in long-distance, high-speed communication due to their high transmissivity and low loss factor. They are also well-suited for corrosive environments or high-temperature settings. These cables include single-mode and multi-mode variations used across multiple sectors such as telecom, oil and gas, military and aerospace, BFSI, medical, imaging, railway, and other applications.
The fiber optic cable market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides fiber optic cable market statistics, including fiber optic cable industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a fiber optic cable market share, detailed fiber optic cable market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the fiber optic cable industry. This fiber optic cable market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.
The fiber optical cable market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $81.84 billion in 2024 to $88.51 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to investments in telecom infrastructure, internet growth and expansion, digitalization of communication, backbone infrastructure development, globalization and interconnectedness.
The fiber optical cable market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $116.14 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing data consumption, internet expansion in emerging markets, cloud computing and edge computing growth, smart cities and iot adoption, e-commerce and digital services. Major trends in the forecast period include 5g network expansion, internet of things (iot) growth, data center expansion, cloud computing demand, broadband internet access.
The growth of the fiber optic cable market is anticipated to be propelled by the increasing demand for higher bandwidth and faster speed connections. This surge is driven by both enterprises and individuals seeking elevated internet performance for activities such as video calls, gaming, online shopping, and social media usage. Fiber optic cables, which utilize light for data transmission instead of electricity, enable enhanced and accelerated internet connections capable of handling higher bandwidth. Notably, the rise in demand is underscored by the proliferation of 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) TV consumption, requiring approximately 15-18 Mbps of data, three times more than standard HD TV. Projections indicate that by 2022, around 62% of connected flat panel TV sets will be 4K, emphasizing the escalating demand for higher bandwidth and increased video consumption as key drivers of the fiber optic cable market's growth.
Increasing investments in the defense sector are anticipated to drive the growth of the fiber optic cable market. Investment in the defense industry involves the allocation of financial resources, capital, or funds to companies, technologies, products, or projects within the military sector. Fiber optic cables are utilized in military communication systems and surveillance equipment due to their high bandwidth and secure transmission capabilities. For example, in April 2022, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a Sweden-based organization and independent source on global security, reported that in 2023, global military expenditure reached $2,443 billion, marking a 6.8 percent increase in real terms compared to 2022. The 31 NATO members accounted for $1,341 billion, or 55 percent of global military spending, with the USA's military expenditure rising by 2.3 percent to $916 billion, representing 68 percent of total NATO military spending. Therefore, the growing investments in the defense industry are fueling the growth of the fiber optic cable market.
The growth of the fiber optic cable market is significantly influenced by technological advancements, with a key trend being the adoption of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM). Wavelength Division Multiplexing is a cutting-edge technique that enhances the capacity of optical fibers by multiplexing numerous optical carrier signals through a single fiber channel, achieved by varying the wavelengths of laser lights. This innovation enables bidirectional communication within fiber cables, blending light signals from different optical fibers using a coupler at the WDM input. In 2023, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to be the fastest-growing market for WDMs, with leading manufacturers and suppliers, including ZG Technology and Optic Network Technology, situated in China.
Major players in the fiber optic cable market are strategically focusing on innovation to drive revenue growth. One notable advancement is the development of multi-core optical fiber and cable, which features multiple cores or channels within a single cable. Each core or channel operates independently, facilitating higher bandwidth and increased data transmission capacity. In October 2022, Sterlite Technologies Ltd. (STL), an India-based fiber optic cable manufacturing company, introduced India's first multi-core optical fiber and cable, branded as 'Multiverse.' This innovative fiber employs Space Division Multiplexing (SDM), achieving four times the transmission capacity compared to a standard optical fiber of the same diameter. The quad-core optical fiber, known as Multiverse, utilizes SDM by incorporating four cores within the same sheath, enabling simultaneous transmission of four separate data streams. This advancement has the potential to significantly increase the data transfer capacity into and out of data centers, demonstrating the commitment of major companies to pioneering solutions in the fiber optic cable market.
In August 2022, Clearfield Inc., a U.S.-based company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of fiber optic management solutions, acquired Nestor Cables Oy for an undisclosed sum. This strategic acquisition is set to expand Clearfield's operations, product line, and the capacity of its plants in Oulu and Keila. Despite the takeover, Nestor Cables will continue to operate under its own name, ensuring the continued availability of its well-established products and services. Nestor Cables Oy, based in Finland, is a manufacturer of fiber optic cables, connectivity accessories for fiber optic networks, and instrumentation and copper telecommunication cables.
Major companies operating in the fiber optical cable market include Corning Incorporated, Prysmian Group, Fujikura Ltd., Sterlite Technologies Limited, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., LS Cable & System Ltd., Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC), Nexans S.A., CommScope Inc., Hengtong Group Co., Ltd., ZTT International Limited, Belden Inc., FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co., Ltd., Finolex Cables Ltd., OFS Fitel, LLC, Draka Communications S.A.S., Optical Cable Corporation, AFL Global, Leoni AG, Amphenol Corporation, HUBER+SUHNER AG, Hitachi Cable America Inc., TE Connectivity, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp., R&M (Reichle & De-Massari), Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Molex LLC
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the fiber optic cable market in 2024. North America was the second-largest region in the global fiber optical cable market analysis. The regions covered in the fiber optical cable market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the fiber optical cable market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain
The fiber optic cable market consists of sales of quartz optical fiber cables, multi-component glass fiber cables, plastic optical fiber cables, step-index multimode fiber, graded index multimode fiber, and other fiber optic cables. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Fiber Optical Cable Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on fiber optical cable market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for fiber optical cable ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The fiber optical cable market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the Russia-Ukraine war, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.