How HBM Capacity Expansion Drives AI Data Center Fiber Cabling Upgrades

Behind the expansion of a storage giant’s production: AI computing power infrastructure logic fully connected

Samsung and SK Hynix continue to release production capacity

Since 2026, Samsung has continued to iterate its fourth generation HBM production capacity, SK Hynix has built a new high-end storage factory and put it into full operation, and global cloud manufacturers and AI companies have continued to purchase high-end storage chips in bulk for the construction of new generation server clusters. The stock prices and orders of the storage sector continue to rise, confirming that global AI capital expenditures are in an upward cycle.

Storage boom drives incremental growth in fiber optic cabling industry

Computing infrastructure is a complete system that does not only expand storage and chips, but also neglects network transmission. Tens of thousands of AI servers, switches, and cabinet clusters require a massive amount of high-density fiber optic jumpers for signal concatenation.
Short term: High prices of storage chips, tight budgets for some small and medium-sized projects, and slight pressure on low-end wiring demand.
Long term: The construction of new AIDC intelligent computing centers worldwide, the renovation of old IDCs, and the construction of overseas computing power parks continue to increase, and the demand for MPO high-density jumpers, OM5 multimode, and OS2 ultra-low loss single-mode fiber continues to explode.

Latest Industry Authoritative Trends in 2026

Global cable leader Prysmian signs a 10-year, 5.5 billion euro AI data center fiber optic supply order, confirming the shortage of overseas computing power cabling capacity; Domestic companies such as Changfei, Hengtong, and Zhongtian Technology have seen a significant increase in their semi annual profits, with the core increment coming entirely from their high-speed cabling business in AI data centers. The computing power fiber optic track has officially replaced traditional telecommunications broadband and become the industry’s top growth curve.

Full scenario fiber selection standards for AI computer rooms (OS2/OM2/OM3/OM4/OM5)

New AI intelligent computing center with 800G/1.6T short-range interconnection

OM5 supports SWDM wavelength division multiplexing, with larger single fiber bandwidth and lower transmission loss. It is the official standard configuration for new AI data center projects in North America and Europe, perfectly adapting to OSFP and QSFP-DD high-speed optical modules, significantly reducing the number of cabinet wiring and improving the stability of high-density computing clusters.

Cross machine room and long-distance DCI interconnection scenarios in the park

Preferred: OS2 ultra-low loss single-mode fiber jumper
Including G.652D conventional single-mode, G.657A2 anti bending single-mode, and G.654E ultra long range single-mode. Suitable for building interconnection, park backbone, and remote interconnection of data centers, with transmission distances ranging from several kilometers to hundreds of kilometers, it is the core selection for backbone networks of operators and large cloud vendors.

Upgrading and renovating traditional IDC old data centers

Mainstream compatibility: OM4 multimode, conventional LC/SC single-mode jumper
The renovation of existing data centers will not completely overturn and rebuild. OM4 is still the main force for 100G-400G renovation, with high cost-effectiveness and strong compatibility, suitable for upgrading traditional enterprise data centers and ordinary cloud data centers.

Old specifications that have been gradually phased out

OM2 has low bandwidth and short transmission distance, making it unable to support high-speed computing networks. Starting from 2026, overseas new computing projects will basically stop purchasing and will only be used for maintenance and replacement of old residential areas and ordinary office networks.

Classification of mainstream fiber optic connector scenarios (LC/SC/FC/ST/MPO)

LC connector: It is absolutely mainstream in data centers, with small size and high density, suitable for all SFP/QSFP/OSFP optical modules, and has the highest usage in AI rooms.
SC connector: commonly used for fiber to the home, campus network, and engineering cabling, easy to plug and unplug, suitable for medium and low-speed networks.
FC connector: threaded locking, anti vibration, used in telecommunications backbone, precision equipment, and industrial scenarios.
ST connector: an old-fashioned LAN connector, currently only used for maintenance of old equipment, and basically phased out for new projects.
MPO/MTP connector: a popular AI computing core with 12/16 cores high-density parallel transmission. It is the only high-density cabling solution in 800G/1.6T data centers, and the value of a single jumper far exceeds that of ordinary LC jumpers.

Guidelines for avoiding pitfalls in the procurement of cabling for computing power rooms

Prioritize the OM5+MPO high-density solution for new AI computing clusters, reject outdated OM2 low bandwidth specifications, and avoid secondary renovations in the later stages.
European and Australian projects must use LSZH low smoke halogen-free flame retardant sheath, which meets local fire safety compliance requirements.
Priority is given to using G.657A2 anti bending optical fiber in high-density cabinets with narrow spaces to prevent bending losses and ensure link stability.
High speed 800G links must use low insertion loss and high-precision end face technology, as ordinary jumpers cannot meet the PAM4 modulation loss standard.