The fiber optic industry has seen tremendous growth over the past few decades. Since the 1970s when researchers first demonstrated the superiority of fiber optic cables over copper wires for long-distance data transmission, fiber optics technology has steadily gained traction and is now the backbone of modern communication networks.
As investment in high-speed broadband infrastructure rises across the globe, fiber optics is increasingly becoming the preferred medium for providing reliable, secure and fast internet connectivity. This growing market has given rise to some dominant players that manufacture fiber optic cables and equipment on an enormous scale.
In this article, we rank the top 15 fiber optic companies in the world today by annual revenue and take a closer look at their offerings.
An Overview of the Booming Fiber Optic Industry
The total market size for fiber optic components and equipment was valued at around $4.8 billion globally in 2021. This is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5% from 2022 to 2030, reaching nearly $10.6 billion according to one forecast.
What‘s driving this rapid growth?
- Soaring demand for high bandwidth: Fiber optic networks can transmit huge amounts of data at blazing fast speeds over long distances, supporting bandwidth-hungry applications.
- Rising internet penetration: As more homes and businesses get high-speed broadband connections, optical fiber deployments continue expanding.
- 5G mobile infrastructure: Fiber serves as vital connectivity backbone to carry 5G cell tower traffic.
- Data center interconnects: Hyperscale data centers rely extensively on fiber for quick data transfers.
- Smart city projects: Urban centers deploy fiber as foundational tech enabling IoT and smart city services.
- Energy sector modernization: Utility companies use fiber optics to build smart power grid.
The companies leading the charge in this technological revolution are racing to grab market share as national governments and private enterprises undertake large-scale investments into optical fiber infrastructure worldwide.
Ranking Methodology
This list of top fiber optic companies is ranked by total annual revenue derived from manufacturing optical fiber, cables and accessories as well as providing related services. Where required, the proportion of revenue contributed by the fiber optic business segment has been used.
The financial data is gathered from the latest annual corporate reports. Additional factors like global operational presence, number of employees, product portfolio and major innovations have also been analyzed to paint a holistic picture.
Now let‘s dive in and explore the 15 heavyweights dominating the global optical connectivity industry today.
15. Tongding Interconnection Information Co., Ltd.
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $420 million
- Headquarters: Wujiang, China
- Year Founded: 2001
The first entry on our list is Tongding Interconnection, a Chinese fiber and cable manufacturer catering to clients in the domestic market. The company went public in 2010 and produces a wide array of optical cables along with coaxial and copper telecom cables.
Key Tongding Products:
- Photon crystal fiber for space tech and biotech applications
- Single-mode optical cables for optical transmission networks
- Fiber optic indoor/outdoor cables
- Customized RF coaxial cables and accessories
14. Sterlite Technologies Limited
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $590 million
- Headquarters: Pune, India
- Year Founded: 2000
Indian fiber giant Sterlite Technologies has a global presence spanning over 150 countries across continents. The publicly-traded company offers end-to-end 5G solutions and counts telecom operators, cloud companies and citizen networks among its customers.
Sterlite‘s extensive product range includes:
- Optical fiber and cables
- Network design and deployment services
- FTTx access solutions
- 5G wireless equipment
- Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN)
13. Futong Technology Development Holdings Ltd.
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $616 million
- Headquarters: Beijing, China
- Year Founded: 1996
Futong is a Beijing-based provider of optical fiber connectivity products, with a specialty in customizable hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) cables for modern cable television and broadband networks. This Chinese firm also leverages cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence to enable smart city infrastructure.
Major Futong Offerings:
- Optical trunk cables
- Hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cables
- Fiber management software
- Intelligent network management platform
- Data center interconnect solutions
12. Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Ltd
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $1.33 billion
- Headquarters: Wuhan, China
- Year Founded: 1988
Yangtze is among China‘s oldest and biggest fiber optic manufacturers, serving a global clientele. In addition to a broad array of cables and accessories, Yangtze crafts customized interconnect solutions for submarine communications, ships, rail transit, 5G base stations and other applications.
Yangtze‘s Product Range Includes:
- Single-mode and multi-mode optical cables
- Composite submarine cables
- High fiber count trunk cables
- Cable installation and maintenance
- Fiber optic transceivers / RF amplifiers
11. Belden Inc.
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $1.86 billion
- Headquarters: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Year Founded: 1902
Belden is an American connectivity solutions giant delivering fiber optic, copper, coaxial and wireless products to customers globally across enterprise, industrial, transportation and infrastructure market segments.
Key Items in Belden’s Extensive Fiber Optics Catalog:
- Enterprise campus cables
- Industrial Ethernet cables
- Broadcast fiber cables
- Ruggedized tactical cables
- Fiber raceways, panels, connectors
- Networking active devices
10. FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $3.67 billion
- Headquarters: Wuhan, China
- Year Founded: 1999
Fiberhome is a Chinese telecom equipment supplier and optical networking specialist serving clients in over 140 countries. In addition to fiber optic technology, the company also provides services like network planning, construction and technical support.
Some Core FiberHome Offerings:
- Optical distribution networks (ODN)
- Active optical cables
- GPON equipment
- DWDM transmission
- Submarine cable systems
9. Fujikura Ltd.
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $4.40 billion
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Year Founded: 1885
Fujikura started as a power transmission equipment manufacturer but has evolved into a fiber optic market leader over its 130+ year history. Its vast array of optical products serves advanced communication networks and is also widely used in equipment powering 5G infrastructure worldwide.
Noteworthy Contributions from Fujikura‘s Fiber Unit:
- Optical fiber fusion splicers
- Cutting-edge multi-core fiber
- High density optical cables
- Fiber laser technology
- Fiber Bragg Grating strain sensors
8. Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $5.55 billion
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Year Founded: 1884
Furukawa Electric has enriched lives since the late 1800s by bringing innovative wire, cable and connectivity products to several markets, including fiber optic telecommunications. This storied company manages subsidiaries across America, Asia Pacific and Europe.
Furukawa‘s Diverse Fiber Optics Range Covers:
- Optical fiber cables
- Cable installation hardware
- Custom cabling solutions
- Fiber testing equipment
- Network design services
7. Hengtong Optic-Electric Co., Ltd.
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $5.76 billion
- Headquarters: Jiangsu, China
- Year Founded: 2000
Hengtong Optic-Electric is the largest fiber optic cable manufacturer in China. It provides specialized optical connectivity for advanced networks spanning telecom, energy, transportation, public infrastructure and ocean systems. The company operates manufacturing facilities globally and has R&D centers in the United States and Germany.
Hengtong‘s Product Lineup Includes:
- High-capacity long distance terrestrial cables
- Composite fiber-optic ground wires (OPGW)
- Fiber optic gyroscopes (FOG)
- Undersea cable systems
- Carrier-grade data center interconnects
6. Zhongtian Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $6.44 billion
- Headquarters: Nantong, China
- Year Founded: 1992
Zhongtian Technologies produces the widest variety of cable types among Chinese manufacturers, covering fields from fiber optics to submarine systems to new energy. It provides connectivity solutions for telecom networks, power grids, rail transit and offshore oil exploration.
Zhongtian Capabilities in Fiber Optics:
- Terrestrial optical cables
- OPGW (optical ground wire)
- FTTx access solutions
- Equipment for cable laying & maintenance
- Fiber monitoring systems
5. CommScope Inc.
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $8.59 billion
- Headquarters: Hickory, North Carolina, USA
- Year Founded: 1976
CommScope builds infrastructure enabling modern communications. It engages with customers globally to deliver 5G networks, multi-gigabit cable access and smart city connectivity supported by a foundation of fiber optic and fixed wireless technology.
Major Fiber Optic Products from CommScope:
- Ultra-wideband optical cables
- Rapid Fiber Solutions
- Optical distribution frames
- Base station antennas
- Microwave antenna systems
4. Prysmian Group
- Annual Revenue from Telecom Division (Includes Fiber Optics): $12.45 billion
- Headquarters: Milan, Italy
- Year Founded: 2011
Created via the merger of Prysmian and Draka, Prysmian Group produces the widest range of cable solutions globally. The Italian powerhouse is a leading supplier of communication and power cables installed in undersea, underground and overhead networks across continents.
Prysmian Fiber Optic Solutions Include:
- Flexible underground cables
- Aerial ADSS fiber cables
- FTTx / Microduct cables
- Connectivity accessories
- Full turnkey services
3. Corning Incorporated
- Annual Revenue from Fiber Optics: $14.08 billion
- Headquarters: Corning, New York, USA
- Year Founded: 1851
With its revolutionary low-loss optical glass fiber invented in 1970, Corning has pioneered multiple innovations enhancing networks globally. The American corporation also manufacturers specialty glass used in smartphones, tablets, televisions and various other display technologies. Over 60% of Corning‘s sales come from fiber optic products and accessories.
Corning‘s Industry-Leading Fiber Portfolio:
- Optical fiber – single/multi-mode
- FTTH access solutions
- Fiber Bragg gratings
- Ultra-high density cables
- Connectivity hardware
2. TE Connectivity
- Annual Revenue from Telecom Division (Includes Fiber Optics): $14.92 billion
- Headquarters: Schaffhausen, Switzerland
- Year Founded: 2000 (Tyco Electronics)
TE Connectivity offers over 75,000 products enabling faster, more reliable connectivity across industries ranging from automotive and aerospace to data centers and smart homes. Nearly 20% of annual sales come from the telecom division which includes fiber optics solutions.
TE Communication Systems and Components:
- Fiber optic connectors and tools
- Network support equipment
- Physical contact test sets
- High speed PCB connectors
- 5G wireless infrastructure
1. Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
- Annual Revenue: $31.62 billion
- Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
- Year Founded: 1897
By far the largest fiber optic manufacturer worldwide, the influential Sumitomo Electric delivers innovative networking solutions together with an array of high-tech offerings covering automotives, energy, electronics and more. The corporate giant‘s beginnings stretch back over 125 years. Sumitomo operates around 350 group companies employs over 240,000 people globally.
Sumitomo‘s Communication Solutions Based on Fibers:
- Optical fibers – terrestrial / submarine
- Fusion splicers
- Opto-electronic devices
- Broadband equipment
- Traffic control systems
Emerging Trends Reshaping the Fiber Optics Industry
The comprehensive capabilities of these industry majors clearly illustrate why optical fiber is integral for state-of-the-art global communication networks. As entire societies grow more connected and data-driven, demand for high bandwidth fiber infrastructure will continue rising.
Here are some emerging directions and disruptions set to define the future of fiber optics:
- Development of innovative multi-core fibers
- Using AI to automate maintenance/ healing of optical networks
- High speed integrated photonics
- Open optical line systems with plug-and-play components
- Greater adoption of fiber monitoring solutions
- Standardization of new form factors like SFP-DD transceivers
The leading companies showcased here have set the stage for next generation optical breakthroughs through sustained R&D investments. They are gearing up to meet soaring bandwidth needs with cutting edge capabilities while also enhancing affordability.
Conclusion
From lighting-quick stock trading platforms to smooth video calls crossing continents to self-driving cars laden with sensors, fiber optic networks are vital to support the modern digital economy. And these companies are the visionary suppliers building smarter and faster information pipelines worldwide.
Their billion dollar revenues mirror the tremendous demand growth for high capacity optical infrastructure across multiple industries. Fiber optics has clearly become the gold standard for future-proof data networks.
