Mobile Optical Cable Quota

China Mobile's 2025–2026 optical cable procurement totals 98.8 million fiber-kilometers, distributed among 14 awarded suppliers with ZTT receiving the largest share.

Total Quota and Procurement Details

China Mobile, the world's largest purchaser of optical fiber, announced a centralized procurement of 98.8 million fiber-kilometers (F-km) of loose-tube optical cables for 2025–2026, marking a record high in recent years and reflecting a 19.3% increase compared to previous purchases . The procurement included both outdoor optical cables and drop cables, with a maximum bid limit of 9.86 billion yuan and a single-core-kilometer price around 69.3 yuan, showing a stabilizing trend in the market .

Supplier Allocation

A total of 14 companies were awarded contracts, with the top four suppliers—ZTT, Hengtong, YOFC, and FiberHome—securing 60% of the total quota, equivalent to 59.3 million F-km . ZTT led the procurement with a 19.36% share (19.1M F-km) at a bid value of RMB 5,416 million, resulting in a price of RMB 54.80 per F-km including VAT . Hengtong followed with 15.48% (15.3M F-km), YOFC with 13.55% (13.4M F-km), and FiberHome with 11.61% (11.5M F-km) . Other suppliers received smaller allocations, reflecting a competitive but value-focused tender environment .

Market Context and Demand

The procurement reflects strong domestic and international demand for optical fiber, driven by 5G network expansion, FTTH deployment, and broadband infrastructure projects in China, the EU, and the US . Rising raw material costs and increased industrial demand have contributed to a stabilizing and slightly increasing price trend for optical cables . The tender also emphasized non-price factors such as product quality, delivery reliability, R&D strength, and ESG performance, highlighting a shift toward value-added supplier differentiation .

Cable Types and Pricing

The procurement primarily involves loose-tube outdoor optical cables, suitable for long-distance and high-capacity transmission . Typical fiber-optic cable prices vary depending on type and strand count, with single-core FTTH drop cables costing around $0.13 per foot and high-count backbone cables reaching $6 per foot in commercial markets . China Mobile's tender prices, converted from F-km, are consistent with these market ranges and reflect bulk procurement efficiencies .

Summary

China Mobile's optical cable quota for 2025–2026 is 98.8 million F-km, with ZTT, Hengtong, YOFC, and FiberHome dominating the allocation. The procurement underscores the growing demand for optical fiber driven by 5G and broadband expansion, while pricing remains stable amid rising raw material costs. The tender also highlights the increasing importance of supplier quality, delivery reliability, and ESG performance in securing large-scale contracts .