Here''s how big the fiber shortage really is
Fiber cables and glass are in short supply. FBA and Superior Essex spoke with Fierce about how the constraints could impact BEAD and data center
Global fiber optic cable production capacity shortage
Home / Global fiber optic cable production capacity shortage
A global shortage of fiber optic cable is intensifying as demand from AI data center construction outstrips a supply constrained by years of reduced production capacity. If you have sourced optical fiber g657 cables in the past month, you have likely encountered extended lead times, skyrocketing quotes, and the dreaded words: "out of stock. It is driven by a combination of factors, but broadly speaking, it includes continuing fibre broadband rollouts, the expansion of 5G, and the building of more data centres needed to store and distribute the massive amounts of data. What started as tightening of capacity has evolved into a sustained global shortage, without a doubt the worst I have seen. This imbalance, catalyzed by massive procurement deals like Meta's up to $6 billion agreement with Corning, is causing product.
