Data Center Structured Cabling Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast Segmented By Component (Hardware, Software, Professional Services), By Cable Type (Category 5E, Category 6, Category 6A, Category 7, Others), By End User (IT and Telecommunication, Residential and Commercial, Government and Education, Transportation, Industrial, Others), By Region, By Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 5.24 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	10.25%
Fastest Growing Segment	Category 6A
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 9.41 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Data Center Structured Cabling Market will grow from USD 5.24 Billion in 2025 to USD 9.41 Billion by 2031 at a 10.25% CAGR. Data center structured cabling constitutes the standardized telecommunications infrastructure, including fiber optic and copper cables, connectors, and patch panels, that facilitates data transmission within data center facilities. This physical layer connects servers, storage units, and network switches to ensure system reliability and scalability. The market is primarily propelled by the exponential increase in global data traffic and the universal migration of enterprise workloads to cloud platforms. Additionally, the rapid adoption of bandwidth-intensive technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, compels operators to upgrade to high-performance infrastructure to minimize latency and manage increased thermal loads.

However, the industry faces a significant challenge regarding the shortage of skilled technicians required for complex installation and testing procedures, which can delay critical project timelines. This workforce constraint imposes a bottleneck on deployment speed even as infrastructure demands surge. According to the Fiber Broadband Association, in 2025, the expanding requirements of artificial intelligence are projected to necessitate a doubling of fiber network miles by 2029 to support the anticipated tripling of data center capacity.

Key Market Drivers

The expansion of hyperscale data center infrastructure, propelled by the explosive growth of generative artificial intelligence, serves as the primary catalyst for the global structured cabling market. This infrastructure shift forces a rapid transition to high-density fiber optic architectures capable of handling immense data throughput and low-latency communication between GPU clusters. As operators densify their networks, the demand for specialized optical interconnects has risen sharply to support these bandwidth-intensive workloads. According to Corning Incorporated, October 2024, in the 'Third-Quarter 2024 Financial Results', the company reported that its Optical Communications sales grew 36 percent year-over-year to $1.24 billion, specifically attributing this surge to strong demand for optical connectivity products used in generative AI networks. Reflecting the broader capital intensity fueling this physical layer overhaul, according to Alphabet Inc., in 2024, the technology giant reported quarterly capital expenditures reaching $13 billion, largely to support technical infrastructure including servers and data centers.

Simultaneously, the increased focus on energy-efficient and sustainable cabling practices is reshaping procurement strategies as operators grapple with escalating power consumption. High-performance computing environments generate significant heat, necessitating structured cabling solutions with smaller outer diameters and improved cable management to minimize airflow obstruction within server racks. This optimization is critical for reducing cooling power usage effectiveness (PUE) ratios in dense facilities. According to the International Energy Agency, January 2024, in the 'Electricity 2024' report, global data center electricity consumption is projected to potentially double from an estimated 460 TWh in 2022 to more than 1,000 TWh by 2026. Consequently, market growth is increasingly defined by the deployment of cabling components that not only ensure connectivity speed but also actively contribute to the thermal efficiency and sustainability goals of modern digital infrastructure.

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Key Market Challenges

The shortage of skilled technicians constitutes a primary restraint hindering the growth of the global data center structured cabling market. As facility operators migrate toward high-density architectures to support artificial intelligence and cloud workloads, the installation of fiber optic and copper cabling requires increasingly specialized expertise. This lack of qualified personnel capable of executing intricate installation and testing procedures inevitably leads to significant project delays and compromised infrastructure quality. When operators cannot secure enough trained technicians, the deployment of necessary bandwidth upgrades stalls, which prevents facilities from meeting the surging data transmission demands of modern enterprise environments.

This workforce deficit creates a tangible bottleneck in operational scalability and directly counters the momentum provided by technological advancements. The inability to rapidly deploy verified structured cabling systems restricts the overall capacity growth of data center facilities. The severity of this labor gap is highlighted by recent industry findings regarding operational struggles. According to the Association for Computer Operations Management, in 2025, 85% of data center leaders reported that persistent talent shortages were directly impacting their ability to maintain and expand operations efficiently. This widening gap between infrastructure demand and labor availability remains a substantial impediment to market progression.

Key Market Trends

The shift toward modular and pre-terminated cabling systems is accelerating as operators prioritize rapid deployment and flexibility to meet tightening construction schedules. Unlike traditional field-terminated methods, which are labor-intensive and susceptible to inconsistent quality, factory-terminated plug-and-play solutions ensure superior performance while significantly reducing installation time. This trend is particularly critical in mitigating the impact of the industry-wide shortage of skilled technical labor, allowing facilities to scale capacity efficiently without compromising on reliability. Reflecting this demand for scalable infrastructure, according to Legrand, February 2025, in the '2024 Full-year Results', the company reported that its data center business recorded an organic sales growth of nearly 15% for the year, driven by the strong adoption of its modular and digital transition offerings.

The integration of Automated Infrastructure Management (AIM) solutions is becoming essential as network complexity and port density reach unprecedented levels. As data centers densify to support artificial intelligence workloads, manual documentation of physical connectivity becomes prone to error and inefficiency, creating a critical need for real-time visibility into the physical layer. AIM systems utilize intelligent hardware and software to automatically track and document cabling infrastructure, thereby enhancing asset utilization, strengthening security, and accelerating troubleshooting processes to minimize costly downtime. According to Belden Inc., February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results', the company announced that its Smart Infrastructure Solutions segment revenues increased 14% organically year-over-year in the fourth quarter, highlighting the growing investment in intelligent network management technologies.

Segmental Insights

Category 6A is currently the fastest-growing segment in the global data center structured cabling market, primarily driven by the critical need for higher bandwidth and reliable 10 Gigabit Ethernet transmission. Recommendations from the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) specifically favor Category 6A for new installations because it supports 10GBASE-T data rates over the full 100-meter standard distance, unlike its predecessors. Furthermore, its enhanced shielding properties effectively mitigate alien crosstalk and manage the heat generated by Power over Ethernet applications. This technical superiority makes Category 6A the essential choice for supporting data-intensive workloads such as cloud computing and virtualization.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global data center structured cabling market driven by the high concentration of hyperscale data centers and cloud service providers. This dominance is supported by the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure and high bandwidth requirements across the United States and Canada. Additionally, strict compliance with engineering standards set by the Telecommunications Industry Association ensures network reliability and performance. Consequently, the continuous investment in facility modernization and network density allows the region to control a significant portion of the global market share.

Recent Developments

• In March 2025, Corning Incorporated launched a comprehensive portfolio of data center products branded as GlassWorks AI solutions, designed to accelerate the deployment of fiber infrastructure for generative AI applications. A key component of this release was the introduction of the Contour Flow Cable, which featured a reduced diameter allowing for double the fiber count within existing duct space. This innovation addressed the critical need for increased optical density in AI-enabled data centers without requiring extensive physical plant expansions. The launch underscored the company's focus on providing space-efficient, high-capacity cabling systems to support the massive data throughput demanded by large-scale GPU clusters.
• In May 2024, Panduit announced the global release of its Base-16 Fiber Cabling System, a solution engineered to support data transmission speeds up to 1.6 terabits per second. This new cabling offering was developed specifically to address the high-bandwidth requirements of hyperscale data centers, artificial intelligence clusters, and machine learning applications. The system featured breakout capabilities to accommodate various high-speed configurations, including 400G and 800G connectivity. By introducing this high-performance fiber solution, the company aimed to provide network engineers with the scalable infrastructure needed to manage the density and latency challenges associated with next-generation computing workloads.
• In April 2024, Reichle & De-Massari (R&M) entered into a strategic licensing agreement with US Conec to enhance the availability of harsh environment connectivity solutions. This partnership enabled the manufacturing and supply of fiber optic connectors that are fully interoperable with R&M's proprietary HEC-QR format, which is designed for robust performance in demanding cabling environments. The collaboration focused on a next-generation family of connectors supporting single-fiber, duplex, and multi-fiber variants. This move allowed both entities to standardize high-performance connectivity options, thereby facilitating easier integration and maintenance for data center operators requiring ruggedized and reliable fiber optic components.
• In January 2024, CommScope introduced SYSTIMAX 2.0, a significant enhancement to its comprehensive portfolio of building and data center connectivity solutions. This next-generation platform was strategically designed to provide customers with advanced structured cabling systems capable of meeting the intensifying operational demands of modern data centers. The updated portfolio focused on delivering agility, reliability, and future-ready performance to support evolving technology disruptions. By upgrading its flagship connectivity offering, the company aimed to equip network infrastructure managers with the robust tools needed to handle the increasing data speeds and density requirements inherent in contemporary digital infrastructures.

Key Market Players

• Paige Electric Co, LP
• CommScope, Inc.
• NEXANS
• Panduit
• Corning Incorporated
• Belden Inc.
• ABB
• Schneider Electric
• Broadcom
• CXtec Inc

By Component	By Cable Type	By End User	By Region
Hardware Software Professional Services	Category 5E Category 6 Category 6A Category 7 Others	IT and Telecommunication Residential and Commercial Government and Education Transportation Industrial Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Data Center Structured Cabling Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Data Center Structured Cabling Market, By Component:

• Hardware
• Software
• Professional Services

• Data Center Structured Cabling Market, By Cable Type:

• Category 5E
• Category 6
• Category 6A
• Category 7
• Others

• Data Center Structured Cabling Market, By End User:

• IT and Telecommunication
• Residential and Commercial
• Government and Education
• Transportation
• Industrial
• Others

• Data Center Structured Cabling Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE