Submarine cable systems Global Market Report 2026

Submarine cables, present on the ocean bed, interconnect regions using conductors enclosed in an insulating sheath. They consist of landing terminating equipment, submarine optical fiber systems, enabling connectivity between regions.

Global submarine cable systems primarily comprise wet plant and dry plant products. Wet plant products encompass a range of items and services associated with managing and sustaining underwater facilities, data centers, and submarine networks. This includes multicore and single-core systems categorized by voltage classes such as high and medium voltage. These systems find applications in communication cables, power cables, and are utilized in offshore wind power generation, inter-country and island connections, as well as offshore oil and gas operations.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on steel armor materials, fiber optic components, and related subsea infrastructure have raised installation and manufacturing costs for submarine cables, most notably affecting communication cable deployments across Asia Pacific and Europe. These tariffs have contributed to project delays and higher capital expenditure for offshore interconnection and power transmission projects. Nevertheless, policies are also encouraging regional manufacturing, innovation in lightweight materials, and diversification of supplier bases, which may help strengthen long term network resilience.

The submarine cable system market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides submarine cable system market statistics, including submarine cable system industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a submarine cable system market share, detailed submarine cable system market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the submarine cable system industry. This submarine cable system market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The submarine cable systems market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $22.19 billion in 2025 to $24.96 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in international telecommunications, rising internet penetration, early expansion of intercontinental cable routes, demand for reliable data connectivity, development of fiber optic technologies.

The submarine cable systems market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $40.14 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to surge in data center interconnections, rising offshore wind projects, growth in hyperscale cloud providers, increasing need for resilient communication networks, expansion of digital trade. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of global data transmission capacity, rising deployment of subsea cables for cloud connectivity, growing demand for cross border high bandwidth infrastructure, increased offshore energy integration requiring power cables, advancements in long distance deep sea cable technologies.

The increasing number of telecom and internet subscriptions is playing a crucial role in the growth of the submarine cable system market. Submarine cable systems, which are installed on the seabed, facilitate the transmission of telecommunication signals using optical fiber technology. The rapid expansion of the telecom and internet subscription industries is largely due to the rising utility of smartphones compared to traditional desktop computers. For example, in November 2024, a report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a Switzerland-based specialized UN agency, indicated that 5.5 billion people were online in 2024. This accounts for 68 percent of the global population, up from 65 percent in 2023. The year-on-year growth rate has also risen, from 2.7 percent a year ago to 3.4 percent this year. Consequently, the surge in telecom and internet subscriptions is driving growth in the submarine cable system market.

Leading companies in the Submarine Cable Systems market are concentrating on creating innovative solutions, such as cable systems, to boost global connectivity, expand data transmission capacity, enhance network reliability, and meet the rising demand for high-speed internet and cloud-based services worldwide. Cable systems are interconnected networks of cables designed to transmit electrical power, telecommunications signals, or data between locations. For example, in September 2024, China Mobile Limited, a China-based telecom company, launched the PEACE (Pakistan & East Africa Connecting Europe) subsea cable system, an advanced fiber-optic network linking Asia, Africa, and Europe. The PEACE cable system stretches roughly 21,500 kilometers and features a high-capacity open cable design that supports flexible bandwidth configurations and low-latency routes between Asia and Europe. It strengthens regional connectivity, fosters digital economy growth, and enhances China Mobile's global infrastructure by enabling faster and more resilient international data transmission.

In October 2023, Citaglobal, a technology and engineering company based in Malaysia, acquired a 30% stake in Ifactors Sdn Bhd for $5.544 million USD. This acquisition aims to enhance Citaglobal's position in the submarine cable systems market and to strengthen its capabilities in the renewable energy and telecommunications sectors. Ifactors Sdn Bhd is a Malaysian company specializing in submarine cable systems.

Major companies operating in the submarine cable systems market are Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., Fujitsu Limited, NEC Corporation, Hengtong Group Co Ltd., TE Connectivity Ltd., Corning Incorporated, Prysmian SpA, Nexans S.A., Leoni Special Cables GmbH, NKT A/S, Apar Industries Ltd., Cablel Group Ltd., Tele-fonika Kable S.A., Hexatronic Cables & Interconnect Systems AB, SubCom LLC, The Okonite Company Inc., LS Cable & System Ltd., ZTT International Ltd., Alcatel Submarine Networks Company, JDR Cable Systems Ltd., Huawei Marine Networks Co Ltd, Xtera Communications Inc., Hesfibel SA, Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke GmbH, Amphenol Fiber Systems International, Elettra Communications Ltd., KokusAI Cable Ship Co Ltd., Global Marine Group Ltd., Orange S.A., PCCW Global Ltd., Aqua Comms Limited, Seaborn Networks LLC, Hawaiki Submarine Cable LP, Southern Cross Cable Network Ltd., MainOne Cable Company Limited, Angola Cables SA

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the submarine cable systems market share in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the submarine cable systems market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the submarine cable systems market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The submarine cable system market consists of sales of multicore fiber and single-core fiber. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Submarine cable systems Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses submarine cable systems market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for submarine cable systems ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The submarine cable systems market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Component: Wet Plant Products; Dry Plant Products
• 2) By Type: Multicore; Single Core
• 3) By Voltage: High Voltage; Medium Voltage
• 4) By Application: Communication Cables; Power Cables
• 5) By End User: Offshore Wind Power Generation; Inter-Country And Island Connection; Offshore Oil And Gas
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Wet Plant Products: Submarine Cables; Repeaters; Cable Joints
• 2) By Dry Plant Products: Cable Landing Stations; Terminal Equipment; Power Feed Equipment
• Companies Mentioned: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.; Fujitsu Limited; NEC Corporation; Hengtong Group Co Ltd.; TE Connectivity Ltd.; Corning Incorporated; Prysmian SpA; Nexans S.A.; Leoni Special Cables GmbH; NKT A/S; Apar Industries Ltd.; Cablel Group Ltd.; Tele-fonika Kable S.A.; Hexatronic Cables & Interconnect Systems AB; SubCom LLC; The Okonite Company Inc.; LS Cable & System Ltd.; ZTT International Ltd.; Alcatel Submarine Networks Company; JDR Cable Systems Ltd.; Huawei Marine Networks Co Ltd; Xtera Communications Inc.; Hesfibel SA; Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke GmbH; Amphenol Fiber Systems International; Elettra Communications Ltd.; Kokusai Cable Ship Co Ltd.; Global Marine Group Ltd.; Orange S.A.; PCCW Global Ltd.; Aqua Comms Limited; Seaborn Networks LLC; Hawaiki Submarine Cable LP; Southern Cross Cable Network Ltd.; MainOne Cable Company Limited; Angola Cables SA
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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