Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “Electrification and Network Resilience: After a “, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
In 2025, the global cable market (France and export, excluding submarine cables) recorded a decline of -3.7%, with varying dynamics across segments. The strong sales growth in the transport and distribution sectors was insufficient to offset the sharp decline in the telecommunications and construction markets.
The transport and distribution of electricity showed growth of approximately +15%, supported notably by a favorable export context and slightly positive domestic activity.
With 60 factories, 7,000 direct employees, a turnover of 3.5 billion euros, and 55% of production exported, the cable, optical fiber, and electrical connection equipment industry contributes to national industrial activity and employment in many regions.
SYCABEL is the professional organization for manufacturers of electrical cables, communication cables, and connection accessories. It brings together 20 companies – SMEs, mid-sized companies, and global groups – representing 3.5 billion euros in turnover, 55% of which is from exports, and employing 7,000 people across 60 sites. The union exercises its expertise in the fields of energy infrastructure, construction, industry, and telecommunications. As an actor committed to the energy and digital transitions, it represents the profession to public authorities, leads sector standardization, publishes reference indicators, and conducts collective actions to strengthen innovation and competitiveness. SYCABEL monitors market and regulatory developments, analyzes costs, and addresses societal challenges through shared technical solutions, thereby consolidating the strategic position of the cable industry in France.
2025, a Slight Decline
The construction market declined by -3.5%, following the slowdown in the French construction sector.
Telecom activity experienced a marked contraction of -25%, linked to the end of the optical fiber deployment cycle. Deliveries of fiber optic cables and accessories in 2025 reached their lowest level since 2013.
Meanwhile, the activity of cable manufacturers in the aeronautics, automotive, and railway sectors is performing well. The first sector relies on exceptionally dynamic global demand driven by nearly 10 years of order books.
Among the structuring initiatives it led during the year, the union highlights:
The participation in the creation of FIERE (Industrial Sector of Electrical Network Companies), a dialogue body with public authorities bringing together network managers and professional organizations.
The development of a new range of cables compliant with the strengthened fire reaction requirements applicable since June 2025 in public establishments and high-rise buildings.
Proposals for cooperation with telecommunications actors to strengthen the resilience of digital infrastructure and support the development of data centers.
Leading the drafting of a European standard related to the product environmental profile, contributing to the harmonization of environmental footprint calculation methods in the cable industry.
Strong Industrial Prospects
Despite the contrasts observed in 2025, SYCABEL industrialists anticipate development prospects linked to the electrification of uses, the expected recovery in housing construction, the growth of data centers, and the need for telecom network resilience.
To respond to these developments, which involve significant efforts in production, quality, and even product evolution, these manufacturers plan approximately 200 million euros in investments in 2026, an increase of +40% compared to 2025.
To support them, the union raises several points of vigilance.
To Accelerate France’s Electrification
As announced in the PPE3 and the working version of the National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC), setting a national target for the electrification of uses, moving from 26% today to 35% in 2030 and then 40% in 2035, is essential. But its implementation is equally crucial. It requires a clear national electrification strategy, which is still awaited.
Furthermore, reducing the taxation on electricity, which represents more than a third of household and business bills, and the strategic recognition of electrical networks and their industries for national and European energy independence remain fundamental.
To Strengthen Telecom Network Resilience
With the gradual phasing out of the copper network, the quality and reliability of the fiber network become a central issue for digital infrastructure. SYCABEL recalls the necessity to ensure the resilience of existing networks, guarantee the quality of components and installations, notably by strictly applying the standards and recommendations of ARCEP's Fiber Expert Committee, and to schedule preventive maintenance operations and the replacement of non-compliant sections.
Source: Read the original article | Published: April 09, 2026