China Mobile's 2025–2026 optical cable procurement awarded top shares to ZTT, Hengtong, YOFC, and FiberHome, reflecting a competitive market with rising prices and emphasis on quality and ESG performance.

Tender Overview

China Mobile, the world's largest purchaser of optical fiber, conducted its centralized procurement for 2025–2026, covering loose-tube outdoor optical cables with a total tender volume of 98.8 million fiber-kilometers (F-km). The tender attracted 27 bids, of which 18 qualified, and 14 companies were ultimately awarded contracts . The procurement scale represents a 19.3% increase year-on-year, marking a record high in the past five years .

Top Suppliers and Market Shares

The top four suppliers captured a combined 60% of the tender, totaling 59.3M F-km :

• ZTT: 19.36% share (19.1M F-km), bid value RMB 5,416 million, price RMB 54.80/F-km including VAT, ranked first due to strong product quality, delivery reliability, and ESG performance .
• Hengtong: 15.48% share (15.3M F-km), bid value RMB 5,331 million, price RMB 53.94/F-km.
• YOFC: 13.55% share (13.4M F-km).
• FiberHome: 11.61% share (11.5M F-km). Other suppliers, such as Hangzhou Futong, saw a decline in awarded share to 3.33%, reflecting increased competition and differentiation based on non-price factors .

Pricing Trends

The procurement reflects a stabilizing and slightly rising price trend for optical cables. The single-core-kilometer limit price for ordinary optical cables is 69.3 yuan, up 0.6% from 2020 . The increase is influenced by upstream raw material costs, domestic 5G network expansion, and international FTTH demand . In the 2026–2027 special optical cable procurement, prices reached a new peak, with most bidders hitting the maximum limit, confirming the trend of rising fiber optic cable prices .

Market Implications

• Quality and ESG matter: Suppliers are increasingly evaluated on production capacity, R&D strength, delivery reliability, and ESG credentials, not just price .
• Demand growth: Domestic 5G access and bearer network construction, along with international FTTH expansion, are driving higher optical fiber demand .
• Competitive landscape: ZTT, Hengtong, YOFC, and FiberHome maintain dominant positions, while smaller suppliers face declining shares .

Conclusion

China Mobile's optical cable procurement highlights a maturing market where value-added capabilities, ESG performance, and reliability are critical for securing contracts. The procurement volumes and rising prices indicate strong demand for optical fiber, driven by both domestic 5G infrastructure and global broadband expansion initiatives.