Fiber is considered a partner technology for 5G, powering the network with promises of higher bandwidth, faster data transfers and more robust low-latency connections. As 5G rollouts continue, fiber-based infrastructure will play a critical role in extending these networks and expanding their reach.
5G connections will double in the next two years, according to GSMA Intelligence's predictions at the recent MWC Barcelona 2023. New deployments are expected in more than 30 countries as early as 2023 and may include 15 separate networks. "By the end of 2022, the number of consumer connections will exceed 1 billion, rising to around 1.5 billion this year -- and reaching 2 billion by the end of 2025," the association reported.
The forecast for fiber technology is positive. According to Research and Markets, the market, which covers glass and plastic cables for underground, underwater and aerial deployments, will reach $4.9 billion by 2022 and could reach $8.2 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 10.9%. The report pointed out that due to the popularity of FTTH, the Asia-Pacific region will achieve the fastest growth, especially in China, India and Japan.
According to the "The 50th Statistical Report on China's Internet Development" released by the China Internet Network Information Center, in China alone, as of June 2022, the total length of optical cable lines is 57.91 million kilometers. An increase of 8.2% year-on-year. As for 5G base stations, China will have 2.9 million base stations by the end of 2023, according to Xinhua.