For 20 years, we treated copper as the default. That era is ending.

We are facing a "perfect storm."

1, Supply Squeeze: Global copper demand is skyrocketing due to EVs and green energy grids.

2, Physics Limitations: As we move to 8K and 40Gbps+, copper requires thicker gauges (AWG 24/22) to combat resistance, making cables heavy, rigid, and expensive.

Fiber is no longer just a "premium" option; it is the economic safeguard against volatile commodity markets.

Why Copper Pricing is Unstable？

1, Commodity Trading: Copper is a globally traded metal subject to mining constraints and geopolitical tariffs.

2, The "Weight" Problem: In high-bandwidth applications (HDMI 2.1, USB4), copper cables must be thick to prevent signal attenuation. More copper = higher BOM (Bill of Materials) cost.

3, Inflationary Pressure: As the price per ton of copper rises, the cost of a 5-meter copper HDMI cable spikes significantly.

4, Raw Material: Fiber core is made from silica (glass/sand)—one of the most abundant materials on earth.

5, Tech-Driven Cost: The cost of fiber cables lies in the chipset (VCSEL), not the cable length. Technology costs decrease over time (Moore’s Law), whereas metal commodity costs increase over time.

6, The Length Parity: At short distances (1m), copper wins. But the "Price Parity Point" is moving closer. Today, at 20m+, Fiber/AOC is often competitive with premium copper, with superior performance.

Don't let your installations be held hostage by commodity markets. Switch to AOC.

FAQ

Q: Isn't fiber more fragile than copper? 

Mattzon: Historically, yes. But modern AOCs use "Bend-Insensitive Fiber" protected by Kevlar and flexible PVC jackets. They are now rugged enough for rental and staging environments.

Q: At what length should I switch from Copper to Fiber? 

Mattzon: As an engineer, I recommend switching to AOC for any run over 5 meters (16 feet) for 4K video, or 3 meters for 8K/USB4 data. Copper becomes unreliable and bulky beyond these points.

Q: Why is copper getting so expensive? 

Mattzon: Competition. The electric vehicle industry and power grids consume massive amounts of copper. The AV and IT industries are competing with the Energy industry for the same limited resource.