Posted On 13-09-2025

• Surging 5G Deployment: The ongoing rollout of 5G in the United States is a significant driver for the optical fiber preform market. Companies such as Corning Incorporated are increasing investments in optical fiber infrastructures to support dense and low-latency network requirements. The enhanced performance and speed of 5G, alongside its mass connectivity promise, are fundamentally altering the future bandwidth needs, pushing operators and fiber suppliers to ramp up production.
• Expanding Data Center Market: The proliferation of hyper-scale and edge data centers, propelled by firms such as CommScope, is fueling the demand for high-performance optical fibers. The exponential growth of cloud computing, IoT devices, and streaming services means data centers need more robust, low-loss, and high-speed optical connections, directly increasing the need for preforms.

• Adoption of Green Manufacturing Processes: Leading companies like OFS Fitel are increasingly adopting environmentally friendly and energy-efficient manufacturing processes for optical fiber preforms. Recent investments include waste reduction, recycling advanced materials, and transitioning to renewable energy for operations. This trend aligns with sustainability goals and provides a competitive advantage in securing eco-conscious contracts.
• Technological Advancements: The US market has seen rapid advancement in preform manufacturing technologies, such as Vapor Axial Deposition (VAD) and Outside Vapor Deposition (OVD). Companies like AFL Global are researching innovative solutions to improve preform purity and efficiency. These technological strides enable higher production yield and reduced costs, supporting the ramp-up of national broadband infrastructure while maximizing profitability.

• Rural Broadband Expansion: Government initiatives like the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund present significant opportunities for preform manufacturers. With federal funding aimed at connecting underserved rural areas, companies such as Corning have substantial prospects to supply optical fiber preforms on a large scale.
• Emerging Applications in Smart Cities: The development of smart city projects across the US is creating new markets for high-quality optical fibers, offering fresh revenue streams to preform providers like Prysmian Group as cities adopt IoT and connected infrastructure.

• In March 2024, Corning Incorporated announced an expansion of its preform manufacturing facility in North Carolina, with a $250 million investment aimed at meeting increased demand driven by the 5G rollout and government-subsidized rural broadband expansion. The expansion will increase production capacity by 30% and is expected to be operational by Q3 2025.
• In April 2024, OFS Fitel launched an advanced, eco-friendly preform fabrication line in Georgia, utilizing sustainable materials and processes to reduce carbon footprint by 18%. The strategic move positions OFS as a leader in green manufacturing, securing contracts with telecom operators focused on sustainability and supply chain decarbonization.
• In May 2024, Prysmian Group announced a strategic partnership with a leading US network provider to jointly develop ultra-low loss preforms for next-generation data centers and smart city backbones. The collaboration centers on research-driven production and accelerates deployment timelines for metropolitan fiber networks.