Global fiber optic price surge! The price of G652.D has increased by over 400%, and AI token call volume has risen more than a thousand times in two years

Ask AI · How can AI data center demand trigger a global fiber optic supply crisis?

Driven by AI data center construction and geopolitical demand, the global fiber optic market price surge has been further confirmed. As of April 6, 2026, the price of G652.D fiber optic cables in the Chinese market has increased by over 400% from last year’s lows. Relevant institutions point out that from 2026 to 2027, the global fiber optic supply and demand gap will expand to 15%. Worldwide, the prices of similar fiber optic products in Europe have increased by 136% month-on-month compared to January 2026, and prices in the U.S. market have also strengthened simultaneously. The fiber optic price increase has spread globally.

UBS citing the latest data from industry research firm CRU reports that the spot price of Chinese G652.D bare fiber optic cable reached 83.40 RMB per kilometer in March 2026, a 165% increase from January 2026, and a 418% year-on-year rise. Since May 2025, this price has increased by over 400% cumulatively and has broken through the previous cycle high of 78.80 RMB per kilometer for the first time. CITIC Securities research report mentions that as of March 2026, the daily token usage of the Doubao large model has exceeded 120 trillion, doubling in the past three months and increasing 1,000 times since its release in May 2024. Zhizhuo’s January ARR was $40 million, with a year-end guidance of $1 billion, representing a 25-fold growth. Nvidia invested $2 billion in Marvell to connect Marvell to Nvidia’s AI Factory and AI-RAN ecosystems via NVLink Fusion, and the two companies will also collaborate on silicon photonics technology. Open Source Securities notes that at the 2026 China Development High-Level Forum, Liu Liehong, director of the National Data Bureau, explicitly named the token’s Chinese translation as “cíyuán,” defining it as a value anchor and supply-demand settlement unit in the intelligent era. Official data shows that the average daily call volume of Chinese tokens increased from 100 billion to 140 trillion over two years, a growth of over a thousand times.

Industry chain and enterprise overview

1. Fiber optic cable industry chain

Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable: Engages in R&D, production, and sales of fiber preform, fiber optic cables, and supporting products, supplying related products for global communication network construction scenarios.

Hengtong Optoelectronics: Involved in R&D, production, and sales of fiber optic cables, power cables, and other products, participating in the global fiber product supply chain.

Zhongtian Technology: Mainly produces fiber preforms, fiber optic cables, and other communication transmission products, providing supporting products for communication network construction.

2. AI large model token service industry chain

Baidu: Develops and operates Doubao large model, with daily token calls exceeding 120 trillion.

Zhizhuo Huazhang: Operates Zhizhuo large model, releasing annual business revenue guidance and defining annual business scale targets.

3. Silicon photonics technology and AI ecosystem collaboration industry chain

Nvidia: Completed a $2 billion investment in Marvell, with both parties collaborating on silicon photonics technology to advance AI ecosystem connection technology research and development.

Marvell: Collaborates with Nvidia, participating in joint development of silicon photonics technology and AI ecosystem connection technology.

Disclaimer: The market carries risks; investment should be cautious. This article is generated by AI based on third-party data, for reference only, and does not constitute personal investment advice.