China Telecom has wrapped up bid evaluation for its 2026-2027 outdoor optical cable procurement, according to a notice on its procurement portal. Eighteen suppliers made the shortlist, with YOFC, ZTT, Hengtong and FiberHome taking the top four spots. Notably, all bidders except Far East Communications priced at the ceiling, bringing the total bid value to 10,904,066,779.75 yuan including tax.
An earlier tender notice shows the procurement covers outdoor optical cable products—including GYTA, GYTS, GYDTA and GYDXTW types—for projects by China Telecom Group, China Telecom Corp and their subsidiaries and branches in 2026-2027, excluding inter-provincial backbone cable projects.
A source said the tender covers 80 million fiber-kilometers, enough to meet demand for 18 months.
Spurred by AI data centers and fiber-optic drones, the global fiber supply-demand picture shifted markedly in 2026, tipping the global optical fiber and cable market into a relatively severe shortage and sending prices sharply higher. Market research firm CRU put the spot price of China's G.652.D fiber at 96.8 yuan per fiber-kilometer, tax included, in August.
China Mobile recently closed its own optical cable tender, with CRU deriving a bare fiber price of about 81.0 yuan per fiber-kilometer, tax included—below spot levels. Judging by the ceiling-level bids suppliers submitted, China Telecom's bare fiber benchmark is likely in the same range: below spot prices, but the tender's successful conclusion shows good faith on both sides.