Middle East & Africa Optical Fiber Cable Market Outlook, 2028

The MEA optical fiber cable market is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the coming years. Factors such as increasing internet penetration, digital transformation initiatives, and investments in telecommunications infrastructure are likely to drive the market. The demand for high-speed connectivity, the expansion of mobile networks, and the growth of cloud computing and data centers will further contribute to market growth. However, addressing infrastructure limitations, overcoming economic and political uncertainties, and ensuring cost-effectiveness will be key challenges for market players. The growing demand for high-speed internet services, driven by factors such as increasing internet penetration, digital transformation, and the proliferation of smartphones, is a significant driver for the optical fiber and cable market in the MEA region. Optical fiber cables provide the necessary infrastructure to meet the rising need for fast and reliable internet connectivity. Governments and businesses in the MEA region are undertaking various digital transformation initiatives, such as Smart Cities, e-Government services, and Industry 4.0. These initiatives require robust and high-bandwidth communication networks, which rely on optical fiber cables for efficient data transmission and connectivity. Optical fiber cables provide secure and interference-free communication, making them highly suitable for applications requiring reliable and protected data transmission. The increasing need for secure communication in industries such as finance, healthcare, and government is driving the adoption of optical fiber cables.

According to the research report, “Middle East and Africa Optical Fiber Cable Market Outlook, 2028", published by Bonafide Research, the market is projected to reach market size of more than USD 1.1 Billion by 2028. The MEA region is home to some of the world's most challenging environments, including deserts, mountains, and oceans. These environments can be hostile to traditional copper-based networks, which are susceptible to damage from heat, cold, moisture, and other environmental factors. Fiber optic cable, on the other hand, is much more resistant to these environmental factors. It can be deployed in direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, and even underwater. In recent years, the Middle East and Africa have seen substantial expansion in the development of their telecommunications infrastructure. In order to deploy cutting-edge technologies like 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and digital services, optical fibre cables are essential for extending the reach and capacity of networks. Countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and South Africa serve as international connectivity hubs. Optical fiber cables play a vital role in connecting these regions to the global network, facilitating reliable and high-speed communications between the Middle East, Africa, and the rest of the world. Optical fiber infrastructure is essential for driving economic growth and fostering digital transformation. It supports industries such as finance, e-commerce, healthcare, education, and tourism, facilitating efficient data transfer, seamless communication, and technological innovation. NEOM is an ambitious smart city project in Saudi Arabia that aims to create a sustainable and technologically advanced city. It envisions an extensive network of smart infrastructure and services, including smart grids, autonomous vehicles, advanced healthcare systems, and high-speed internet connectivity. Optical fiber cables are fundamental to enabling the connectivity backbone of NEOM.

Based on the report, the cable type, the market includes, single mode and middle mode, Single-mode fiber offers a higher bandwidth capacity compared to multimode fiber. It can support higher data rates, enabling the transmission of large amounts of data, which is essential for applications such as video streaming, cloud computing, and data-intensive services that are becoming increasingly prevalent in MEA. The MEA region is strategically located along international submarine cable routes, connecting it to other parts of the world. Single-mode fiber is the preferred choice for submarine cable systems due to its ability to transmit signals over long distances with minimal signal degradation. Single-mode fiber provides better signal quality and lower signal attenuation compared to multimode fiber. This allows for reliable long-distance communication and higher data transmission rates, which are essential for the connectivity needs of MEA's growing population and expanding industries. Single-mode fiber is designed to transmit data over long distances with minimal signal loss. This characteristic makes it ideal for MEA's expansive geographical regions, where optical networks often need to cover vast distances to connect urban centers, remote areas, and international submarine cable landing stations.

The installation type of the market includes, overhead, underground and submarine. The submarine segment is expected to register highest CAGR of the market. Submarine cables play a crucial role in establishing international connectivity between continents. MEA countries, such as those located along the coasts of the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, and the East African coastline, rely on submarine cables to connect with the rest of the world. These cables facilitate the exchange of data, voice, and video traffic across continents, enabling global communication, trade, and collaboration. MEA countries are experiencing rapid economic growth and are actively investing in digital transformation. Submarine cables are a critical component of digital infrastructure, supporting the expansion of industries such as finance, e-commerce, tourism, and IT services. The availability of high-speed and reliable international connectivity through submarine cables fuels economic growth and enhances competitiveness in the global market. Submarine cables play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide by connecting coastal regions to the global network. These cables enable the extension of high-speed connectivity to underserved areas, including remote coastal communities and islands. By enhancing connectivity in these regions, submarine cables contribute to social and economic development, enabling access to educational resources, healthcare services, and e-commerce opportunities.

There have been advancements in optical fiber technology to increase the capacity and bandwidth of fiber optic cables. One such innovation is the development of multi-core fibers, which have multiple cores within a single fiber, allowing for increased data transmission capacity. Optical fiber cables are not only used for data transmission but also for sensing applications. Fiber-optic sensing technology has been advancing, allowing for applications such as distributed temperature sensing, strain sensing, and acoustic sensing. These advancements have enabled various applications in areas such as structural health monitoring, oil and gas pipelines, and environmental monitoring. Innovations in fiber optic cable design have focused on improving durability, flexibility, and ease of installation. For instance, there have been advancements in bend-insensitive fibers, which are more resistant to signal loss when bent or twisted. Additionally, developments in cable designs have led to more compact and lightweight cables, making them easier to install and manage.



Major companies present in the market:
Nexans S.A., Prysmian S.p.A., Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Fujikura Ltd., Belden Incorporated, Hengtong Group, Corning Incorporated, Te Connectivity, LS Cable & System Ltd. ,Leoni AG, Riyadh Cables Group.

Considered in this report
• Geography: Middle East & Africa
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report
• Middle East & Africa Optical Fiber Cable market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Country-wise Optical Fiber Cable market analysis
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Countries Covered in the report:
• UAE
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa

By Cable Type:
• Single Mode
• Multi-Mode

By Installation Type:
• Overhead
• Underground
• Submarine

By End User:
• Power Infrastructure (Energy, Power Transmission and Distribution)
• IT & Telecommunication
• Building & Construction (Commercial and Residential)
• Aerospace & Defence
• Consumer Electronics
• Automotive (Passenger, Commercial and Utility Vehicles
• Others (Oil & Gas Industry, Industrial Machinery and Manufacturing, Medical Equipment, Logistics, etc.)

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analysing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience:
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Optical Fiber Cable industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.