The Fiber Broadband Association’s Research Shows AI and Data Center Expansion Requiring 2.3x More Fiber

The Fiber Broadband Association published research performed and provided by RVA LLC in the report: “The Under Appreciated Need to Enable AI and Data Center Growth: Increased and More Strategic Fiber Interconnections.” This research paper showcases the immediate and underrecognized need to upgrade and grow fiber infrastructure to meet the high-capacity demands of AI applications on hyperscale data centers. 

With AI exploding onto the digital landscape, it is anticipated that the United States will see at least a 3x increase in hyperscale data center capacity by 2029. That increase in capacity is dependent on more fiber usage, a 2x increase in fiber route miles, and a 2.3x increase in total fiber miles. This report provides information on how fiber-optic interconnections have shifted from being “behind the scenes” in data centers to being the crucial infrastructure supporting AI performance, scalability, and security. 

“The need for fast, secure, low-latency connections between hyperscale data centers has accelerated with the birth of AI. Given the laws of physics, fiber remains the superior medium of interconnection cable used between data centers and users,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association. “This research reveals the scale of the challenge and the urgent need for new investment, policy modernization, and smarter infrastructure planning to keep pace with AI innovation.” 

To download and read the full report, click here.