US Radio Over Fiber Market: by Type (Analog Radio-over-Fiber, Digital Radio-over-Fiber), Application (Telecommunications, Broadcast, Military, Satellite, Emergency Services, Others), Distribution Channels (Direct Sales, Distributors/Resellers, Online, System Integrators, VARs, Others), Technology (Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM), Single-mode, Multi-mode, Others), Organization Size (Small, Medium, Large) and By US â Historical & Forecast Period (2020-2035) Comprehensive Study 2025
Last Updated: 13-09-2025 | Format: PDF | Report ID:21229
US Radio Over Fiber Market Outlook (2025-2035)
The US Radio Over Fiber (RoF) market is driven by escalating demand for high-speed data transfer and expansion of 5G and IoT ecosystems. RoF solutions transmit radio frequency signals over optical fiber, enabling low-loss, high-capacity, and long-distance communication. The industry is segmented by type (analog and digital RoF, hybrid, coaxial, millimeter-wave, others), applications (telecommunications, broadcast, military, satellite, emergency services, others), technology (WDM, DWDM, CWDM, single-mode, multi-mode, others), distribution channels, and organization size. Key players include HUBER+SUHNER, EMCORE Corporation, Optical Zonu, Glenair Inc., II-VI Incorporated, among others. The market is expected to experience robust year-on-year growth, fueled primarily by telecommunication and military applications, with notable opportunities in emerging 5G infrastructure.
Understanding the Impact of Tariffs on "US Radio Over Fiber".
Latest Market Dynamics
Key Drivers
Expansion of 5G and LTE networks across the US is significantly driving Radio Over Fiber adoption. Companies like HUBER+SUHNER are actively supplying RoF solutions for enhanced wireless backhaul and distributed antenna systems in 2025.
Rising demand for data centers and cloud computing infrastructure, particularly from leading players such as Broadcom Inc., boosts the need for high-bandwidth, low-latency fiber-based networks.
Key Trends
Integration of Radio Over Fiber with Internet of Things (IoT) and smart city initiatives enables seamless connectivity for a range of new device types and sensors, as seen with projects implemented by Optical Zonu in large metropolitan areas.
Increased military applications, including secure, interference-free communications, are leading to government contracts and investments—recently highlighted by Glenair Inc.'s supply contracts for defense radio-over-fiber modules.
Key Opportunities
Deployment of private 5G and Open RAN networks presents major opportunities, with companies like EMCORE Corporation developing tailored RoF systems to support these applications for enterprise and campus environments.
Growth in emergency services networks—such as first responder and disaster recovery systems—is prompting investments in robust, low-latency RoF links, with Fiber-Span LLC innovating solutions in this domain.
Key Challenges
High initial deployment costs for Radio Over Fiber infrastructure remain a key challenge, limiting adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises; this barrier has been noted by several system integrators collaborating with Centric RF.
Ensuring interoperability among legacy and next-generation networks is complex, especially with varied standards—triggering additional development cycles for solution providers like Syntonics LLC.
Key Restraints
Stringent government and regulatory frameworks regarding spectrum allocation and cybersecurity slow the adoption curve in highly regulated sectors, posing difficulties for players such as DEV Systemtechnik.
Shortage of skilled professionals in fiber optic installation and maintenance, particularly in rural or remote areas, impairs expansion rates—a restraint observed by APIC Corporation in recent deployments.
US Radio Over Fiber Market Share (%) by Type, 2025
Analog Radio-over-Fiber solutions hold the largest share in 2025, accounting for 38% of the market, due to their extensive applications in traditional broadcast and military communications. Digital Radio-over-Fiber has gained significant traction (30%) due to advancements in 5G deployments and data center applications, offering enhanced signal quality and lower noise. Hybrid solutions, including millimeter-wave and coaxial, represent 25%, driven by custom deployments in enterprise and specialized telecom networks. 'Others' account for 7%, comprising emerging technologies.
US Radio Over Fiber Market Share (%) by Applications, 2025
The dominant application for Radio Over Fiber in the US is telecommunications, commanding 46% of the market in 2025. This is propelled by 5G rollouts and the necessity for robust backhaul infrastructure. Military applications represent 28%, benefiting from secure, long-range, and low-interference communication systems. Broadcast and emergency services together account for 26%, supported by the need for reliable, scalable content delivery and critical communications. Other applications, notably satellite communications, also witness growth.
US Radio Over Fiber Market Revenue (USD Million), 2020-2035
Between 2020 and 2035, the US Radio Over Fiber market demonstrates a robust upward revenue trajectory. Starting at $290 million in 2020, the market grows steadily to $620 million by 2025, benefiting from 5G expansion and advancements in cloud technologies. By 2030, revenue is forecasted at $1,020 million, continuing toward $1,780 million in 2035 as adoption across telecommunications, military, and broadcast intensifies. This growth reflects sustained modern infrastructure investment and technological innovation.
US Radio Over Fiber Market Year-on-Year Growth (%), 2020-2035
The YoY growth for the US Radio Over Fiber market peaks at 21% during the initial 5G adoption phase (2023-2026) before stabilizing to between 12%-15% through 2030. From 2031 to 2035, growth rates moderate as the market matures, falling to approximately 8% annually. This pattern is underpinned by large-scale 5G, IoT, and government projects front-loading growth, eventually giving way to stable replacement and maintenance cycles.
US Radio Over Fiber Market Share (%) by Region, 2025
The Midwest leads with 34% of the market in 2025 due to dense telecom infrastructure and manufacturing hubs. The West follows at 29%, benefitting from technology innovation and defense contracts. The South claims 22% and the Northeast holds 15%, both driven by urban telecommunications and media deployments. Regional differences arise from local investment climates, existing fiber infrastructure, and public-private technology initiatives.
US Radio Over Fiber Market Share (%) by Players, 2025
Key industry participants in the US exhibit a fragmented yet competitive landscape. HUBER+SUHNER leads with 16% market share owing to widespread telecom deployments. EMCORE Corporation and Optical Zonu each hold 10% due to their strong focus on government, military, and IoT projects. Other significant players include Glenair Inc. (8%) and II-VI Incorporated (7%), with the remainder split among smaller innovative suppliers.
US Radio Over Fiber Market Share (%) by Buyers, 2025
The primary buyers of Radio Over Fiber solutions in the US are telecommunications companies, accounting for 43% of the market in 2025. Government and military buyers represent 27%, while broadcasters and private enterprises make up 20% and 10% respectively. This segmentation highlights the reliance on high-speed, reliable, and secure transmissions within critical sectors.
Study Coverage
Metrics
Details
Years
2020-2035
Base Year
2025
Market Size
620
Regions
Midwest, West, South, Northeast
Segments
Analog Radio-over-Fiber, Digital Radio-over-Fiber, Hybrid Radio-over-Fiber, Coaxial Radio-over-Fiber, Millimeter-Wave Radio-over-Fiber, Telecommunications, Broadcast, Military, Satellite, Emergency Services, Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM), Single-mode, Multi-mode, Direct Sales, Distributors/Resellers, Online, System Integrators, VARs, Small, Medium, Large
June 18, 2024: HUBER+SUHNER announced commercial deployment of its next-gen Radio-over-Fiber solutions for a major US carrier's 5G backhaul expansion.
July 2, 2024: EMCORE Corporation introduced a new high-bandwidth digital RoF platform optimized for military and first responder applications.
July 11, 2024: Optical Zonu partnered with a leading broadcasting group to roll out RoF-based Ultra-HD content delivery solutions across multiple US markets.
August 6, 2024: Glenair Inc. secured a federal defense contract for secure, ruggedized RoF modules supporting battlefield communications.
August 19, 2024: OFS Fitel, LLC released a report detailing innovations in fiber-optic cabling for emerging 6G and private 5G networks.
