The Explosive Demand for Fiber Optic Cable Equipment: How AI Data Centers Are Reshaping the Selection Logic for Stranding and Sheathing Equipment
In 2026, the global fiber optic cable industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by AI. AI computing power demand is fundamentally rewriting the market landscape for optical cables. A single hyperscale AI data center requires several times more optical fiber than a traditional data center. In 2025, global data center fiber optic cable demand surged 75.9% year‑on‑year, reaching 69.6 million fiber‑km; in 2026, this figure is projected to reach 91.6 million fiber‑km. CRU forecasts that over the next five years, the compound annual growth rate for AI‑ and data‑center‑related cable demand will reach 32.6%.
Cable prices have soared in tandem – G.652.D bare fiber prices have risen to RMB 83.4 per fiber‑km, an increase of over 400% year‑on‑year. The popular G.657.A2 specialty fiber has skyrocketed from RMB 32 per fiber‑km in 2025 to RMB 240 per fiber‑km – a staggering 650% increase. General Administration of Customs data shows that in March 2026, China’s fiber optic cable exports reached USD 245 million, up 263.84% year‑on‑year. Many leading manufacturers have orders booked through 2027 and 2028.
The demand structure has changed, the products have changed, and the logic behind selecting optical cable manufacturing equipment must change with them. This article starts with the new requirements AI data centers place on cable products and breaks down the new selection logic for stranding and sheathing equipment.
