FiberHome's Lan Hai: AI and Computing Networks Open a New Upward Cycle for Optical Fiber and Cable

C114 News, October 19 afternoon (Jiang Junmu) - The 2026 Global Optical Fiber and Cable Conference opened today in Wuhan, China Optics Valley. Lan Hai, secretary-general of the Optics Valley Entrepreneurs Association and Party secretary and chairman of FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co., Ltd., delivered a welcome address on behalf of the organizers, saying that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of China's first optical fiber. China's optical fiber and cable output accounts for about 60 percent of the global total, and Optics Valley has become the world's largest optical fiber and cable production base. With artificial intelligence accelerating, 6G technology continuing to evolve, and computing power networks being deployed faster, the optical fiber and cable industry is entering a new upward cycle.

"In golden October, the river city of Wuhan is filled with distinguished guests," Lan Hai said. As the 2026 Global Optical Fiber and Cable Conference opens, he extended a warm welcome to all guests who traveled from afar on behalf of the organizers, and expressed sincere thanks to friends from all walks of life who have long supported the industry's development.

Fifty years ago, in a rudimentary laboratory converted from a cleaning room at the Wuhan Research Institute of Posts and Telecommunications, Academician Zhao Zisen led his team in successfully drawing 17 meters of optical fiber, opening a new chapter in China's optical communications industry. Lan Hai said that over half a century, the torch has been passed down and generations of light chasers have worked tirelessly, driving the leapfrog development of China's optical fiber and cable industry. Today, China's optical fiber and cable output accounts for about 60 percent of the global total, and Optics Valley has become the world's largest optical fiber and cable production base. From the difficult beginnings of a single optical fiber to leading global industry development, this journey embodies the wisdom, perseverance and dedication of generations of optical communications professionals.

"Looking back, we are deeply proud; looking ahead, a new industry cycle has begun." With artificial intelligence accelerating, 6G technology continuing to evolve, and computing power networks being deployed faster, the optical fiber and cable industry is entering a new upward cycle. Themed "Light Enables AI, Leap into the Future," this conference focuses on optical fiber and cable technology innovation and applications while extending discussions to frontier areas such as AI optical interconnection and submarine communications. It aims to promote coordinated progress across the industry chain and further explore the broad application prospects of optical fiber infrastructure connecting land and sea and supporting computing power interconnection.

Opportunities in the optical fiber and cable industry no longer come solely from traditional telecom networks. AI computing clusters require higher-density, lower-latency and lower-loss optical connections, while submarine communications and cross-regional networks place new demands on submarine cables, terrestrial optical fibers and system reliability. Lan Hai said the conference hopes to build a high-quality platform for global industry exchange and cooperation. During the conference, international standards related to new optical fibers will be officially released, and a number of authoritative reports and competitiveness rankings will be launched at the same time.

"We look forward to in-depth exchanges and the clash of ideas at this conference, pooling global wisdom to jointly build an open, collaborative and win-win optical communications industry ecosystem, letting light connect the world and intelligence reach the future," he said.

From 17 meters of optical fiber to 60 percent of global output, from a rudimentary laboratory to the world's largest optical fiber and cable production base, the 50 years of China's optical communications industry have been a relay of effort by generation after generation of light chasers. Today, AI and computing power networks are pushing the industry to a new starting point. For the optical fiber and cable sector, the real test is not just to catch one upward cycle, but to deepen and broaden technology, standards and the industrial ecosystem through open collaboration, so that this beam of light from Optics Valley continues to illuminate the future of the intelligent world.