NAICS 335921 Quarterly Industry Report
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 335921Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 335921 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and the Small Business Administration[7]. Our research team compiles establishment counts, employment data, and SBA eligibility criteria specific to fiber optic cable manufacturing. Reports are updated quarterly to reflect new Census releases and regulatory changes.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the fiber optic cable manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (NAICS 335921) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing insulated fiber optic cable from purchased fiber optic strand. This industry does not include the production of the glass fiber strand itself (classified in 327212) but rather the cabling process that buffers, strengthens, and jackets optical fibers into finished cable products for installation. Products include loose tube cables for outside plant telecommunications, tight-buffered cables for premises wiring, ribbon cables for high-density data center interconnects, and armored cables for direct burial and harsh environment applications. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies this industry under communication and energy wire and cable manufacturing.
Roughly 325 active businesses employ an estimated 7,100 workers in this industry. Cable designs vary by application: outside plant cables for telephone and cable television networks use loose tube construction with gel or dry water-blocking to protect fibers; indoor cables use tight-buffer designs that allow individual fiber access at patch panels and termination points. Fiber counts per cable range from single-fiber drop cables serving individual premises to 3,456-fiber ribbon cables deployed in long-haul backbone and metro network routes.
Manufacturing processes include fiber coloring, tube extrusion, stranding tube elements around a central strength member, water-blocking tape or gel application, jacketing extrusion, and quality testing for attenuation, bandwidth, and mechanical properties. Raw materials include purchased optical fiber preforms drawn into strand by upstream suppliers, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride jacketing compounds, aramid yarn strength members, and steel or fiberglass reinforcing elements. Broadband expansion programs funded through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program have increased demand for outside plant fiber cable to connect underserved rural communities across the country.
What's Included in This Industry
- Outside plant fiber optic cable manufacturing
- Premises fiber optic cable production
- Ribbon fiber optic cable manufacturing
- Armored fiber optic cable production
- Drop cable manufacturing for last-mile connections
- Submarine fiber optic cable production
- Military tactical fiber optic cable manufacturing
- Direct burial fiber optic cable production
- Aerial self-supporting fiber cable manufacturing
- Fiber optic patch cord and pigtail assembly
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 335 |
| Industry Group | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 3359 |
| NAICS Industry | Communication and Energy Wire and Cable Manufacturing | 33592 |
| National Industry | Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing | 335921 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 335929 | Other Communication and Energy Wire Manufacturing | Manufactures other communication and energy wire and cable using copper and aluminum conductors rather than the optical fiber-based cables produced in this classification |
| 327212 | Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware Manufacturing | Produces glass and glass products including optical fiber preforms and bare fiber strand that fiber optic cable manufacturers purchase as their primary raw material input |
| 334290 | Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing | Manufactures other communications equipment including fiber optic transceivers and network hardware classified separately from the passive fiber cable products produced here |
| 335931 | Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing | Produces current-carrying wiring devices for building electrical systems rather than the optical fiber cables used in telecommunications and data network infrastructure |
| 335311 | Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing | Manufactures power transformers and distribution equipment for electrical grids rather than the fiber optic cables used in communication network infrastructure |
| 334210 | Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing | Produces telephone apparatus and communication switching equipment that connects to fiber optic networks but classifies separately from cable manufacturing itself |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 22.1% | 23 |
| 2 | Florida | 12.5% | 13 |
| 3 | Texas | 9.6% | 10 |
| 4 | New York | 8.7% | 9 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 5.8% | 6 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 5.8% | 6 |
| 7 | Georgia | 5.8% | 6 |
| 8 | Virginia | 4.8% | 5 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 3.9% | 4 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 3.9% | 4 |
% Of Establishments
0%
22%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
40
Total SBA Loans
$10.8M
Total Loan Volume
$270K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
11.25%
Average Interest Rate
744
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[7] sets the size standard for NAICS 335921 at 1,000 employees. Firms below this threshold qualify for small business set-aside contracts and SBA-backed lending programs. Federal procurement includes fiber optic cable for military base network upgrades, submarine cable for Navy installations, and tactical fiber for battlefield communication systems. The SBA's contracting programs[8] support manufacturers pursuing Defense Information Systems Agency and Rural Utilities Service fiber deployment contracts. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[9] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[10] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Bank | 24 | $8.4M | $350K |
| 2 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 8 | $2.0M | $250K |
| 3 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 8 | $400K | $50K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 335921?
Manufacturers of insulated fiber optic cable from purchased optical fiber strand classify here. Products include outside plant telecommunications cable, premises wiring cable, ribbon cable, armored cable, submarine cable, and military tactical fiber cable per the Census Bureau[5] classification.
How is the fiber optic cable manufacturing industry structured?
Roughly 325 businesses employ an estimated 7,100 workers per Census data[11]. A few large manufacturers dominate outside plant cable production while smaller firms serve specialty segments including military tactical cable, submarine cable assemblies, and custom patch cord production for data center applications.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 335921?
The SBA[7] sets the threshold at 1,000 employees. Businesses with fewer than 1,000 average employees qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA-backed financing programs including 7(a) and 504 loans.
What NAICS codes are related to fiber optic cable manufacturing?
Related codes include 335929 (Other Communication Wire), 327212 (Glass Products), 334290 (Communications Equipment), 335931 (Wiring Devices), 335311 (Transformers), and 334210 (Telephone Apparatus). Each covers products that interface with but differ from the fiber optic cable products in this code.
What industries purchase fiber optic cable?
Telecommunications carriers, communication line contractors, data center operators, glass fiber producers, and wireless carriers interact most directly. Broadband expansion programs and 5G wireless backhaul deployment drive current demand for both outside plant and premises fiber cable products across domestic markets.
What activities are included in NAICS 335921?
Activities include manufacturing loose tube outside plant cable, producing tight-buffered premises cable, fabricating high-density ribbon cable for data centers, manufacturing armored and direct burial cable, assembling military tactical fiber cable, producing aerial self-supporting cable, and manufacturing submarine cable for underwater network crossings.
Can fiber optic cable manufacturers qualify for SBA loans?
Yes, firms below 1,000 employees qualify for SBA lending programs[8] including 7(a) and 504 loans. Cable extrusion lines, fiber coloring equipment, stranding machines, and optical testing systems represent capital investments suited to SBA 504 equipment financing.
Where are fiber optic cable manufacturers concentrated?
Production concentrates in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic states, with major facilities in North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia near telecommunications industry clusters. Proximity to optical fiber preform suppliers and telecommunications carrier network operations centers influences plant location. Federal broadband funding programs have spurred capacity expansion at existing facilities and new production line investments by both domestic and foreign-owned manufacturers.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [8]SBA's contracting programs sba.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [10]504 loans sba.gov
- [11]Census data naicslist.com
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