Global Structured Cabling Market Decline in 2020
The global structured cabling market decline in 2020 reflects the sharp impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with BSRIA projecting a 12% drop from US$6.6 billion to US$5.8 billion. BSRIA expects overall consumption to recover to 2019 levels no earlier than 2022.
A recent BSRIA study, updated to factor in Covid-19, covers 10 countries and four regions and shows that the first half of 2020 saw the steepest fall as lockdowns disrupted projects worldwide. In some markets, the most severe impacts continued into the second half of the year.
For more details about this research, visit BSRIA or contact the market intelligence team at wmi@bsria.co.uk.
Drivers of the Global Structured Cabling Market Decline
The report points to significant variation between countries, largely tied to the broader economic impact of the pandemic and the scope of government support for construction and building-related sectors. Some governments introduced targeted measures for specific industries, which helped soften the downturn in selected markets.
Performance also differed by vertical market. Travel, hospitality, and retail segments suffered the deepest losses, while healthcare, data centers, and in some countries education remained relatively robust.
Copper Hit Harder Than Fiber
According to BSRIA, copper cable and connectivity experienced a sharper contraction than fiber solutions. Global copper sales fell by about 15%, with regional declines consistently ranging between 14% and 16%.
BSRIA links this drop to severe disruption in non-residential construction, including the delay or cancellation of many commercial and institutional projects that typically rely on copper cabling.
Fiber Supported by Data Center Growth
By comparison, fiber cabling declined by around 7%, though results varied across regions. Asia-Pacific markets stayed relatively stable, while the Americas saw fiber sales fall by about 14%.
In markets where fiber held up better, increased investment in data centers helped offset weakness elsewhere, as the pandemic accelerated demand for cloud and web-based services.
