How AI Data Centres Drive Prysmian Cable Innovation in APAC

Cable solutions provider Prysmian is strengthening its Asia-Pacific presence as AI-driven data centres create unprecedented demand for higher power capacity, advanced connectivity and material-efficient infrastructure.

With five decades of operations in Singapore, the company is positioning itself to support the technology requirements of hyperscale and enterprise facilities across Southeast Asia and beyond.

The convergence of AI adoption and data centre expansion is creating new technical challenges.

These facilities require significantly higher power density than traditional data centres, alongside advanced digital connectivity and reliable thermal performance to support intensive compute workloads.

Massimo Battaini, CEO of Prysmian, tells investors in a recent earnings call that the company is working across Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific "to become more relevant, to become more engaged with the go-to-market, with a proper supply chain to win more share in the data centre space".

Material constraints drive innovation

The rapid growth of AI infrastructure is intensifying pressure on global supply chains.

Copper scarcity is affecting costs and availability across the technology sector, with components such as solid-state drives and graphics processing units seeing price increases of up to 30% due to AI-related demand.

This supply constraint is sharpening focus on infrastructure solutions that maximise efficiency while reducing material consumption.

Cabling systems play a crucial role, directly influencing power delivery, space utilisation and long-term operating costs.

Prysmian has responded by advancing cable technologies designed to balance performance with material efficiency.

In Southeast Asia, the company has introduced a new power cable design capable of delivering equivalent power to conventional cables while using less copper and featuring a smaller overall diameter.

The design relies on advanced optimisation of insulation and sheathing materials, enabling safe operation at temperatures up to 110°C compared with the industry standard of 90°C.

This thermal performance has enabled the reduced copper usage, which in turn lowers the carbon footprint associated with production and helps mitigate material cost pressures.

Smaller and lighter cables simplify transport and installation, while a reduced bending radius supports tighter layouts and more efficient use of space within data centres.

Fibre optics and emerging technologies

Beyond power delivery, Prysmian is advancing its digital connectivity solutions to meet the demands of AI applications.

The company has partnered with Relativity Networks on hollow-core fibre technology, which represents a potential step change in optical transmission.

Frederick Persson, Executive Vice President of Digital Solutions at Prysmian, explains: "Prysmian has long been a global champion in setting the standard in the field of fibre optics and our cutting-edge solutions are always evolving to meet the demands of our customers.

"This, combined with Relativity Networks' technology, will enable both our companies to lead the global market for hollow-core fibre well into the future – a hugely significant area of focus as we work to accelerate in order to meet the demands emerging from data centres and AI applications worldwide."

The technology offers advantages in latency reduction and signal integrity, both critical as AI workloads scale and real-time processing requirements intensify.

Hollow-core fibre differs from traditional optical fibre by transmitting light through air rather than glass, reducing signal degradation and enabling faster data transmission.

As data centres process increasingly complex AI models requiring rapid communication between distributed computing resources, these performance gains become more significant for operators seeking to optimise infrastructure efficiency and competitive advantage.

Regional manufacturing supports deployment

Space efficiency and speed of deployment are increasingly important as data centres scale to meet AI workloads.

Prysmian's cable innovations are designed to support these priorities, particularly in urban and high-density locations where floor space is at a premium.

Easier installation and reduced space requirements shorten build timelines and support phased expansion strategies.

This is particularly relevant in Asia-Pacific markets where demand is rising quickly and operators are looking to bring capacity online efficiently.

Prysmian's manufacturing capability within the region plays a supporting role.

The company's facility in Rayong, Thailand, specialises in low voltage cable production, supporting regional electrification needs alongside growing data centre demand.

Combined with its Singapore hub, this local footprint enables faster delivery and closer alignment with customer requirements.

Prysmian operates 107 plants, 27 research and development centres and employs more than 33,000 people worldwide.

In 2024, the group reported revenues exceeding €17bn ($17.85bn).

The company has set a target for 55% of revenue to come from sustainable products and solutions by 2028 and has committed to achieving net zero across its operations and value chain by 2035.

For data centre operators facing their own carbon reduction targets, supplier alignment on sustainability is becoming a practical consideration in procurement decisions.

As AI continues to reshape infrastructure requirements across Asia-Pacific, the intersection of power delivery, connectivity and material efficiency is emerging as a key competitive factor.