Fiber Optic Cables in 2018

2018 was a pivotal year for fiber optic cables, marked by slowed global growth, technological advancements, and record-breaking submarine cable deployments.Global Market OverviewIn 2018, the global optical cable market experienced a slower growth rate of 4%, the lowest since 2003, largely due to a contraction in the Chinese market, which had previously driven double-digit growth for four years. China Mobile, the largest optical cable customer, reduced its orders, contributing to the stagnation in demand. Despite this, global preform capacity increased as Chinese producers expanded operations, ending a two-year fiber shortage by mid-2018. Additionally, US tariffs on Chinese cables had minimal impact on exports to the US, and Prysmian completed its acquisition of General Cable, consolidating industry players .Technological and Manufacturing DevelopmentsFiber optic cables in 2018 continued to evolve for diverse applications, including Local Area Networks (LANs), data centers, and telecom infrastructure. Manufacturers like Reichle & De-Massari (R&M) focused on flame-retardant and fire-resistant loose-tube constructions compliant with IEC 60794-1-2 standards. Cables were produced with FRLSZH (Fire-Retardant, Low-Smoke, Zero-Halogen) compounds for indoor use and PE (Polyethylene) compounds for outdoor installations. Armored designs, such as Steel-Wire-Armoured or Corrugated-Steel-Tape, were increasingly used for direct burial and high-resistance applications. Quality control remained rigorous, with each fiber and cable undergoing final testing and documentation .Submarine and High-Capacity DeploymentsBy 2018, there were over 350 submarine fiber optic cables spanning more than 1 million kilometers, with capacities in the petabits-per-second range. Major digital companies like Google and Facebook led new deployments, surpassing traditional telecom operators. Notably, Google planned a trans-Atlantic cable with 250 Tbps capacity, capable of transmitting the entire Library of Congress in 0.3 seconds. Advances in optical-electrical conversion, signal processing, and repeaters enabled these unprecedented capacities, while multi-fiber cables allowed more efficient undersea transmission .Fiber Optic Cable CharacteristicsFiber optic cables consist of a core and cladding designed for total internal reflection, with protective coatings and sheathing layers to ensure durability. They offer high-speed data transmission with low latency, typically around 5–5.5 microseconds per kilometer, and significantly lower energy consumption compared to copper cables. Signal loss is measured in decibels, with modern multimode fibers exhibiting 1 dB/km at 1300 nm. Fiber optics also provide environmental benefits by reducing energy use in data centers and network hubs .SummaryIn 2018, the fiber optic industry faced market slowdowns in China, but technological innovation and global deployments, particularly in submarine networks, continued to advance. Manufacturers emphasized safety, durability, and high-capacity designs, while digital giants drove record-breaking undersea cable projects, setting the stage for future growth in global connectivity .