Key Points:
- Sumitomo Corporation is the world‘s largest fiber optic company with $31.62 billion in annual revenue. They provide cables, connectors, network solutions and more to telecom companies globally.
- TE Connectivity is second largest with $14.92 billion in revenue. They make fiber optic connectors, tools, antennas and other products used in communication networks.
- Corning Inc invented the first low-loss optical fiber in 1970 and continues to be a top producer today with $14 billion in annual sales.
Fiber optic communication revolutionized the telecom industry by providing faster, higher bandwidth transmission over long distances. As global data usage grows exponentially, demand rises for companies that make and deploy the cables and hardware enabling all that connectivity.
The fiber optic market was valued around $7 billion in 2021 but is predicted to reach $15 billion by 2030. With so much room for growth, manufacturers are scaling up capacity while service providers race to install more infrastructure.
This article profiles the 15 largest companies in the fiber optic industry. They design, produce and deploy the physical materials underlying both long-haul telephone lines as well as the "last mile" connecting homes and cell towers.
#15: Tongding Interconnection Information Co., Ltd. – $420 million
Tongding Interconnection manufactures and sells fiber optic cable, RF coaxial cable, customized optical cable and more communication equipment out of its headquarters in Jiangsu Province, China. Founded in 2001, Tongding went public in 2010 and has grown into a recognized brand, winning industry awards for its technological innovation.
Key products include:
- Photon crystal fiber cable: Used in space technology, communications, biotechnology and advanced scientific applications
- Dispersion unshifted single-mode fiber: Boosts optic signal transmission distance and speed
- Fiber optic outdoor/indoor cable: For enterprise and residential networking applications
Tongding also makes railway signal cable, power cable and communication copper cables. It provides integrated solutions encompassing design, production, installation and maintenance.
#14: Sterlite Technologies Limited – $590 million
Headquartered in Pune, India, Sterlite Tech offers end-to-end solutions for optical fiber networks. It makes and deploys cables and accessories enabling high-speed telecom infrastructure.
With manufacturing plants in India, China, Brazil and Italy, Sterlite supplies customers in over 150 countries. Its global revenue exceeded $590 million in 2021 through four main business areas:
- Optical connectivity solutions: Fiber, cable and interconnect products
- Services: Survey, design, deployment, maintenance and more
- Access solutions: FTTX and broadband last-mile access equipment
- Network software: SDN/NFV solutions maximizing performance
Sterlite stands out for assisting communication companies and governments with fiber network design and rollout. It emphasizes social programs improving rural connectivity in developing regions.
#13: Futong Technology Development Company Limited – $616 million
Established in 1996 and headquartered in Beijing, Futong makes and sells fiber optic cables and accessories in the China market. Riding on the country‘s massive investments in 5G and broadband infrastructure, it nearly doubled its annual revenue over the past five years to $616 million.
What sets Futong apart is its focus on innovative R&D, resulting in numerous patents and national awards. It actively develops solutions leveraging cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and industrial internet.
Examples of advanced offerings include digital diagnosis platforms, AR visualization tools and AI-powered ecommerce. Such software and services account for a growing portion of Futong‘s business.
#12: Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Ltd. Co. – $1.33 billion
YOFC was established in Wuhan in 1988, later going public in 2014. It manufactures a diverse range of cable and interconnect products including:
- Optical fiber and cable: For long-haul, metro, access and submarine networks
- Equipment/parts: Optoelectronic devices, RF coaxial components, heat shrink tubing
- Network services: Custom design, installation, maintenance and more
With eight manufacturing centers across China, Yangtze ships connectivity products to over 50 countries globally. In addition to telecom, its solutions serve industries like power transmission, rail transit, oil production, aerospace and more.
Continual R&D in new materials and advanced production methods fuel rapid growth for Yangtze. The company earned $1.33 billion last year, ranking it among world leaders in fiber optics.
#11: Belden Inc. – $1.86 billion
Founded in 1902 and headquartered in Missouri, Belden Inc. develops connectivity technologies enabling the transmission of data, sound and video. Its cables, connectors and networking equipment can be found in industrial, enterprise and broadcast settings globally.
Serving specialized niches across industries, Belden’s products include:
- Fiber optic cable: Rugged for harsh factory environments
- Broadcast cable: HD video transmission over long distances
- Industrial Ethernet: Fast communication between machines
- Network racks: Superior cable management
With over 1,900 patents, Belden emphasizes R&D across its seven R&D centers. It reported $1.86 billion in FY2021 annual revenue. Though not exclusively fiber optics, cabling remains core to Belden’s business.
#10: FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co. – $3.67 billion
State-owned Fiberhome was founded in 1976 to help build China’s national fiber optic network. While still focused on infrastructure, the company makes a wide variety of connectivity gear.
Product categories span:
- Optical communication equipment: Cross connects, test instruments, active components
- Fiber optic cable: Aerial, buried, indoor/outdoor, submarine
- Network/smart solutions: Broadband, wireless, cloud computing, big data analytics
Fiberhome works closely with the big three state providers in China – China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile. It’s currently helping them construct advanced 5G infrastructure across the country.
With revenue exceeding $3.6 billion annually, Fiberhome succeeds through large scale, efficient manufacturing. Its capacity stands around 200 million fiber km, #1 globally.
#9: Fujikura Ltd. – $4.4 billion
Diversified manufacturer Fujikura has been a telecom supplier for over 136 years. Though started as a copper company, today it makes fiber optic solutions along with advanced electronic components and automotive parts.
Fujikura’s communications segment encompasses:
- Optical fiber, cable and accessories: For long distance networks
- Equipment: Splicers, test instruments and connectivity hardware
The company also manufactures and installs power transmission cables leveraging optical fiber monitoring technology. With around 14,000 employees globally and $4.4 billion in annual revenue, Fujikura continues adapting its varied technological expertise toward cutting edge solutions.
#8: Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd. – $5.55 billion
Furukawa was founded in 1884 as a copper mining and material company before entering the telecom market. Headquartered in Tokyo, Furukawa Electric now supplies infrastructure for power and communications networks globally, including:
- Fiber optic cable: Ultra high count designed for dense urban networks
- Broadband equipment: Nodes, closures and cabinets
- Network accessories: Joint boxes, ducts, manholes and more
Furukawa also makes products for autos, railways, semiconductors and electronics. Leveraging synergies across divisions, Furukawa Electric earned over $5.5 billion last fiscal year. It continues heavy R&D investment toward next generation infrastructure solutions.
#7: Hengtong Optic-Electric Co. – $5.76 billion
Established in Jiangsu province in 1993, Hengtong Optic-Electric is one of China’s largest fiber optic manufacturers. It makes an immense variety of cabling and connectivity products including:
- Communication cable: Optical, composite, submarine
- Parts: Connectors, amplifiers, splitters
- Smart equipment: Reclosers, switchgear, monitoring devices
Hengtong further provides complete EPC services encompassing survey & design, project construction and after-sales maintenance. Its international holdings across 20+ companies contributed $5.76 billion total revenue in 2021.
#6: Zhongtian Technologies Co. Ltd. – $6.44 billion
Formed in Nantong in 1992, Zhongtian Tech produces submarine and underground cables used in power networks. It also makes optical fiber and coaxial cable for telecom systems.
Product categories include:
- Power cable: Overhead, submarine and eHV
- Communication cable: Optical, LAN, coaxial and more
- Accessories: Joints, terminations and monitoring equipment
With eight manufacturing centers in China plus global sales offices, Zhongtian exports its cables to 90 countries. Reporting over $6.4 billion in 2021 sales, it ranks among the world‘s largest wire and cable producers.
#5: CommScope Holding Co. – $8.59 billion
CommScope was founded in North Carolina in 1976. Now based in Indiana, CommScope is a global provider of infrastructure solutions for communication networks.
Major product lines include:
- Antennas: Cell towers, WiFi, broadcast, in-building and more
- Cable: Fiber, coaxial, copper and custom connectivity
- Network equipment: Enclosures, racks, test gear and more
Leveraging an array of legacy brands (Ruckus, ARRIS, Amphenol), CommScope tailors solutions across segments from hyperscale data centers to homes. It reported $8.59 billion in 2021 sales.
#4: Prysmian Group – $12.7 billion
Created via a 2005 merger of Pirelli Cables and Draka, Prysmian Group is a global industry leader based in Milan. It makes submarine telecom and power cables along with optical fiber, wire and specialized connectivity solutions.
Prysmain operates 50+ production facilities and 25 R&D centers worldwide. Its network components serve industries spanning:
- Energy infrastructure
- Transportation – Auto, rail, aerospace, marine
- Construction – Buildings, infrastructure
- Telecom – Rural, long-haul, urban links
Major innovations include ultra high count fiber and ∞-fibrated glass insulation. With sales exceeding $12 billion in 2021, Prysmian leads cable technology into the future.
#3: Corning Inc. – $14 billion
Founded in 1851 as a glass manufacturer, Corning Inc. played an integral role developing low-loss optical fiber in the 1970s. While now a high-tech industrial leader across areas like mobile, display and automotive, optics remains central to Corning’s business.
The company produces and supplies all components across the fiber network deployment chain, including:
- Cable: Single-mode, multimode, loose tube and ribbon
- Hardware: Cabinets, enclosures, terminals and more
- Optical instruments: Test gear ensuring quality
With expertise nurtured over 170 years along with proprietary processes like SMF-28 fiber, Corning sells to telecom operators globally while also helping new players enter the market.
#2: TE Connectivity Ltd. – $14.9 billion
A spin-off of Tyco Electronics, TE Connectivity provides connectivity and sensor solutions for a wide span of industries – communications, transportation, industrial machinery and more.
TE’s role supporting network infrastructure includes products like:
- Fiber optics: Connectors, test instruments, inspection tools
- Antennas: Wireless, broadcast, automotive and appliance
- Wire and cable: Aerospace and defense, appliances, sensors
With manufacturing, engineering and customer service facilities across nearly 150 locations globally, TE tailors solutions backed by proven quality, reliability and scalability. Strong R&D innovation focuses on bandwidth growth and next generation mobility systems.
#1: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. – $31 billion+
Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Tokyo, Sumitomo operates diverse businesses across IT, automotive, materials and living environment segments. Major subsidiary Sumitomo Electric Lightwave focuses on communications infrastructure including:
- Optical fiber cable: Ultra 200 fiber count and bend insensitive
- FTTH / PON: Active, passive components and splitters
- Networks: Rapid fiber rollout solutions
Sumitomo integrates vertically, handling everything from R&D to material sourcing, manufacturing and installation. With over 340K km fiber deployed across two continents, no competitor matches its scale and experience. Sumitomo reported $31+ billion consolidated net sales in 2021.
Fiber optic communication forms the high-speed backbone empowering modern mobile, cloud and IoT innovations. While underlying infrastructure often goes unnoticed, its performance and reliability is vital.
The companies above research, engineer and deploy that critical data lifeline. Their continuing advances increase speeds and capacity globally, fueling cutting edge progress across industries.
