Subsea Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) Global Market Report 2025

The subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.29 billion in 2024 to $1.46 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising global data traffic and demand for high-capacity undersea communication networks, expansion of cloud computing and data center infrastructure, increasing need for dynamic bandwidth management across transoceanic routes, advancements in optical networking technologies enabling efficient data transmission, and growing adoption of 5G networks.

The subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.38 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing deployment of flexible and scalable subsea optical networks, rising demand for real-time network reconfigurability in undersea communication systems, growing investments in transoceanic fiber optic infrastructure, advancements in wavelength selective switch (WSS) technologies for enhanced network flexibility, and increasing collaborations between telecom providers and technology vendors to strengthen subsea network capabilities. Key trends in the forecast period include advancement in subsea optical network technologies, integration of artificial intelligence and automation in subsea network management, innovations in wavelength selective switches for improved network performance, expansion of cloud computing and data center infrastructure driving subsea network demand, and strategic collaborations between telecom providers and technology vendors to enhance subsea network operations.

The surging global data traffic is expected to propel the growth of the subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market going forward. Data traffic refers to the total volume of digital information transmitted across networks worldwide, including mobile and fixed-broadband connections. The surge in global data traffic is driven by bandwidth-intensive applications such as video streaming, cloud computing, and real-time communications powered by expanding 5G networks, collectively causing exponential growth in data transmission worldwide. Rising data volumes across undersea cables require flexible systems that can dynamically add, drop, or reroute optical wavelengths to efficiently manage increasing network capacity. For instance, in June 2024, according to Ericsson, a Sweden-based telecommunications company, from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, mobile network data traffic experienced a quarter-on-quarter growth of approximately 6%. Therefore, surging global data traffic is driving the growth of the subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market.

The rising adoption of cloud services is expected to propel the growth of the subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market going forward. Cloud services are computing resources and applications delivered over the internet, enabling users to access software, storage, and processing power on demand without maintaining physical infrastructure. The growing adoption of cloud services is primarily driven by digital transformation initiatives, as organizations across industries are migrating operations to cloud-based platforms to achieve greater scalability, flexibility, and operational efficiency in an increasingly connected global economy. Expansion of cloud services requires robust intercontinental data transmission capabilities, as data must travel seamlessly across oceans through subsea fiber optic networks that depend on advanced optical switching and routing technologies to manage rising bandwidth demands. For instance, in March 2024, according to Flexera, a US-based computer software company, multi-cloud usage increased from 87% in 2023 to 89% in 2024. Therefore, rising adoption of cloud services is driving the growth of the subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market.

In February 2025, Nokia, a Finland-based telecommunications and optical networking company, acquired Infinera Corporation for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition aims to strengthen its leadership in the optical networks sector by accelerating its product roadmap, enhancing high-capacity optical networking capabilities, and meeting rising AI and data center demands. Infinera Corporation is a US-based telecommunications equipment company that provides subsea-capable transport systems and ROADM functionality.

Major players in the subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market are Fujitsu Limited, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., Nokia Corporation, NEC Corporation, Prysmian S.p.A., LS Cable & System Ltd., FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co., Ltd., Ciena Corporation, Lumentum Operations LLC, Alcatel Submarine Networks SAS, Anritsu Corporation, SubCom, LLC, Nexans S.A., Xtera Communications Inc., HMN Technologies Co., Ltd., AC Photonics, Inc., IT International Telecom Inc., PT Communication Cable Systems Indonesia Tbk, Orange Marine SAS, and Padtec S.A.

North America was the largest region in the subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The rapid rise in U.S. tariffs and the subsequent trade frictions in spring 2025 are having a major impact on the electrical and electronics sector, with semiconductors, display panels, and rare-earth metals (essential for batteries and motors) subject to steep duties. Consumer electronics brands face profit erosion, as competitive markets limit their ability to pass costs to buyers. Industrial electronics manufacturers, meanwhile, grapple with delayed projects due to shortages of tariff-impacted components like printed circuit boards. Companies are responding by relocating assembly to tariff-exempt countries, increasing inventory buffers, and redesigning products to reduce dependency on restricted materials.

The subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market statistics, including subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market share, detailed subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) industry. The subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

Subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) refers to a network device designed to enable dynamic routing of optical signals across undersea communication networks. It efficiently adds, drops, or redirects data channels without manual intervention, ensuring optimal bandwidth utilization. The subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) enhances network flexibility and scalability, allowing operators to optimize data flow in real time and maintain high-performance connectivity across global submarine communication links.

The key components of a subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) include wavelength-selective switches (WSS), optical amplifiers, optical add-drop multiplexers, control software, and others. Wavelength-selective switches (WSS) in subsea ROADM systems are optical devices that dynamically route specific wavelengths across fiber pairs, providing flexible wavelength management and traffic reconfiguration in underwater networks. The fiber types include single-mode fiber and multi-mode fiber, available in various technologies such as fixed, flexible, colorless, directionless, or contentionless. The deployments are classified into shallow water and deep water and are applied across several sectors, including telecommunication, data centers, oil and gas, defense and security, and others.

The subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as network design and configuration, system installation and integration, remote monitoring and maintenance, data traffic management, and upgrade or expansion support. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The subsea reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) market also includes sales of optical transceivers, optical filters, optical power monitors, wavelength blockers, optical switches, and network management units. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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