On October 19, according to TrendForce Jibang Consulting's latest communications industry research, as AI data centers, cross-data center interconnection, and high-capacity backbone network construction drive fiber demand, it is estimated that in 2026, the global optical fiber supply and demand gap will reach 180 million core kilometers. The contraction in supply will drive the spot price of finished optical fiber products to increase 2.8 to 5 times a year. To this end, telecom vendors have begun to gradually adjust their procurement models, shifting from short-term to long-term arrangements in order to lock down optical fiber resources in advance. The agency said that due to the huge demand created by applications around AI data centers, global fiber supply has been tight since the end of 2025 and is expected to continue until at least 2028.

On October 19, according to TrendForce Jibang Consulting's latest communications industry research, as AI data centers, cross-data center interconnection, and high-capacity backbone network construction drive fiber demand, it is estimated that in 2026, the global optical fiber supply and demand gap will reach 180 million core kilometers. The contraction in supply will drive the spot price of finished optical fiber products to increase 2.8 to 5 times a year. To this end, telecom vendors have begun to gradually adjust their procurement models, shifting from short-term to long-term arrangements in order to lock down optical fiber resources in advance. The agency said that due to the huge demand created by applications around AI data centers, global fiber supply has been tight since the end of 2025 and is expected to continue until at least 2028.