[Agency: Fiber optic spot quotation multiples will rise in 2026, and data center demand shortages may continue until 2028] October 19th, according to TrendForce’s latest communications industry research, as AI data centers, cross-data center interconnection and high-capacity backbone network construction drive up fiber demand, it is estimated that the global optical fiber supply and demand gap will reach 180 million core kilometers in 2026, and the supply tightening will drive the spot price of optical fiber finished products to increase by more than 2.8 to 5 times annually. To this end, telecom manufacturers have begun to gradually adjust their procurement models, shifting from short-term to long-term contracts to lock in optical fiber resources in advance. The agency stated that due to the huge demand created by applications around AI data centers, global optical fiber supply has been tense since the end of 2025 and is expected to continue until at least 2028.