In recent years, the development of fiber optic cables in various countries around the world has not been reduced. Among them, the United States, Japan and China are the major applicants for fiber optic cable technology patents. According to the patent data search engine SooPAT data, in 2018, China's fiber optic cable related technology patent applications reached 206.

Before 2002, there were more patent applications in the United States and Japan, but after 2002, patent applications in the United States and Japan showed a downward trend. After 2008, China accelerated the application for patents for fiber optic cable technology. In particular, after 2010, the number of applications for Chinese patents accounted for almost 60% of the global annual application volume, which is the main driving force for the new round of growth of fiber optic cable technology patents.

According to the main domestic institutions, since 2008, the number of patent applications of major institutions such as Changfei Department, Shandong Pacific Fiber Optic Cable Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Hengtong Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. has continued to increase. Among them, Changfei Optical Fiber Cable Co., Ltd. is the most complete enterprise in the patented technology of fiber optic cable in China, with 585 patents, accounting for 23.37%, including patents on multi-layer core or cladding optical fiber in the global institutions. Both have strong competitiveness.

In terms of light rods, since the mass production of optical fibers began in the late 1970s, the research and improvement of optical fiber preform manufacturing technology has never been interrupted. Before 2014, the production technology of optical fiber preforms has been monopolized by foreign countries, resulting in high dependence on imports in China and the difficulty in upgrading related technologies.

The data show that in 2008-2018, the number of patent applications for light bar related technology in China showed an upward trend, but the absolute amount is still small. In 2016, the number of patent applications related to light bars was 327, reaching a historical maximum; in 2018, it was down to 159.

Among them, China's light stick patent applicants ranked first in Zhongtian Technology Precision Materials Co., Ltd., the number of patents was 121, accounting for 5.00%; followed by Changfei Department of two companies - Changfei Fiber Optic Cable Co., Ltd. Changfei Optical Fiber Cable Co., Ltd. has more than 110 patents.

Although the light bar technology is lagging behind, with the anti-dumping of China's optical fiber preforms imported into Europe, America and Japan, foreign companies have sought cooperation with domestic enterprises to continue to explore the Chinese market. China's optical fiber preform self-sufficiency rate has increased significantly. In 2017, the self-sufficiency rate of China's optical fiber preforms has reached 88.07%.

Fiber optic cable has become a strategic industry related to the country's sustainable development, along with the "Broadband China" strategy, "Internet +" strategy and the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, and the deepening of 5G construction and cloud computing, big data With the landing of technologies such as the Internet of Things, China's fiber optic cable will enter a new stage of development.