India’s optical fibre exports hit $483 million between April and August 2026. This 158 per cent jump happened because global tech companies need high-speed cables for new AI data centres. The United States bought the most, spending $266.7 million. These cables help move massive data amounts across the world quickly.
India is seeing a big boom in optical fibre exports, thanks to the global AI rush. The country’s exports jumped 158 per cent year-on-year to $483 million (around Rs 4,300 crore) between April and August 2026, as tech companies ramp up investments in AI data centres. These facilities need high-speed cables to move huge amounts of data between servers, and that is driving demand for optical fibre.
According to a Financial Express report citing data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the surge is creating fresh opportunities for Indian manufacturers supplying the infrastructure behind the AI boom.
So, where is all this optical fibre going? The US is one of the biggest markets for AI infrastructure, with companies such as OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and Meta investing in AI models and data centres. The United States is reportedly the biggest buyer of Indian optical fibre products during the five-month period, with exports worth $266.7 million. China came second at $52.4 million, followed by Poland at $22.8 million and Vietnam at $22.6 million. Japan, Canada and Italy were among the other key markets, while Indian products also reached the UK, Germany, Brazil, Malaysia, the UAE and Mexico.
Why AI needs optical fibre
While chips and AI models are getting much of the attention in the global AI race, they are only part of the picture. AI infrastructure needs much more than computing power, and optical fibre cables are an important part of it. These cables carry information using pulses of light rather than electrical signals, allowing large amounts of data to travel at high speeds over long distances. They connect servers inside data centres, link these facilities to communication networks and help deliver high-speed internet to homes and businesses.
As companies race to build more AI data centres, they need faster and more reliable connections to move information between thousands of servers. The growing use of AI, along with the expansion of 5G and broadband networks, is driving demand for the cables and equipment needed to make these connections possible.