Powering 5G services: Telcos may spend up to $2.5 billion on optical fibres

5G, fibre-to-home, Bharat Net will lead to demand surge in next 3-4 yrs

Optical fibre cable (OFC) manufacturers are bracing to meet a multifold increase in fiberisation, aggressively tap global markets to power 5G services, and cope with demand from fibre-to-the home (FTTH) fixed broadband. Telcos estimate that they will be spending anything between $1.5- 2.5 billion in India on OFC in the next three to four years. Global demand, with prices firming up due to 5G and FTTH roll out, will go up from $9.2 billion (502 million fibre kilometres) in 2021 to over $12 billion (610 million fibre kilometres) by 2024 - a CAGR of 10 per cent.

Optic fibre players