NEWS
Data centres account for more than two in five of all structured cabling installed globally – BSRIA
BSRIA, an authority on structured cabling and building services markets, has released its latest analysis of the global structured cabling sector. The Structured Cabling Worldwide 2026 report,covering 34 countries, points to a market driven by data centre investment. The global structured cabling market grew 21% in 2025 to $9.08 billion, adding $1.3 billion in a single year and building on almost 11% growth in 2024. The data centre segment was the main driver of that growth, increasing by 54% in 2025, as AI infrastructure investment continues to push cabling demand higher. Data centres now account for more than 41% of all cabling installed, almost double the 21% share they held in the 2015 to 2018 period. Markets including Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and India recorded strong growth.
A market splitting into two tracks
Cabling demand is splitting into two tracks. Data centre work is dominated by large-scale projects, high in value and concentrated in a handful of suppliers. The LAN market is the backbone of most commercial buildings, providing connectivity and power to desks, Wi-Fi and security systems. LAN sales grew 2% in 2024 and 5% in 2025 as the sector recovered from the supply chain disruption that followed Covid-19. Regional LAN performance varied. The Americas hold almost half (45%) of the LAN market and grew 9% in 2025, driven by the US and Canada. Asia Pacific contracted by 1.9%, held back by a 7% decline in China linked to a 17% fall in non-residential construction that hit offices and manufacturing in particular. India and Southeast Asia performed well against that regional drag.
Lone Hansen, manager IT cabling, BACS & associated technologies at BSRIA, said: “The shape of this market has changed in a short space of time. Data centres are where most of the value growth is, and the US is pulling further ahead because of investment in AI infrastructure across all data centre segments. The LAN side of the market is doing the essential work of connecting offices, powering desks, supporting WLAN and keeping security systems running, and that demand is steady rather than spectacular.”
Copper holds its ground as Cat 6A overtakes Cat 6
She added: “Copper has held up better than people expected. LAN cabling is essential for connectivity and power to desks, Wi-Fi and security systems, and Cat 6A has now overtaken Cat 6 in global sales. Material cost rises in the second half of 2025 pushed prices up, which has shifted the commercial conversation as much as the technical one.”
Ambition for heat networks growth could be jeopardised if policy doesn’t catch up
Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK) has published a new set of recommendations urging Government to provide greater regulatory clarity, targeted funding and stronger policy recognition for heat pump-driven low- carbon heat networks, warning that the ambitions for heat networks will be difficult to achieve without a framework that supports deployment at scale.
The publication, Accelerating the Deployment of Heat Pump Driven Low Carbon Heat Networks and Drilling, focuses on Shared Ground Loops (SGLs), ambient heat networks, heat pump driven traditional heat networks and the drilling infrastructure that underpins many of these systems.
Key recommendations from HPA UK • To help scale heat networks from around 3% of UK heat demand today to 20% by 2050, HPA UK recommends the UK Government:
• Formally recognise shared ground loops and ambient heat networks as compliant within zoning and regulatory frameworks, are afforded the statutory rights accompanying zoned network status while ensuring standards and obligations are proportionate to their low-temperature nature.
• Support coordinated, area-wide rollout of heat networks by identifying viable locations early and enabling delivery through effective tools and funding.
• Design schemes to support heat pump-led networks in suitable buildings, with targeted measures that reflect higher upfront costs and long-term benefits.
• Standardise drilling permitting, invest in targeted training, and enhance national ground data to unlock the full value of underutilised heat sources.
• In addition to these asks, the sector have committed to: • Building the evidence base by compiling case studies that demonstrate the performance, cost- effectiveness and carbon benefits of heat pump-driven low-carbon heat networks and drilling-based solutions across a range of settings.
• Providing robust performance data to ensure the characteristics of heat pump-driven low-carbon heat networks are accurately reflected in SAP, the Home Energy Model, HNTAS assessments and funding eligibility criteria.
• Developing and sharing technical guidance and best practice on SGL system design, commissioning, monitoring and long-term thermal management to support consistent quality across the sector.
• Demonstrating the economic and employment value of heat pump-driven low-carbon heat networks and drilling deployment to strengthen the case for continued investment and policy support.
Commenting on the release, Dr Joel Hamilton, HPA UK Technical Consultant said: “HPA UK’s key asks address the issues that have held back deployment and, with the right policies and support, the UK has a genuine opportunity to make heat pump-driven heat networks a cornerstone of its clean heat transition.”
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AUGUST 2026 5 ‘ ‘ Quote, unquote
At the launch of Wolseley Renewables Centre’s new F-Gas training course, Dan Marsden, director of the centre said… “Engineers are increasingly looking at how they can work
more flexibly across the year. For heating engineers, air conditioning is a natural progression that helps balance seasonal demand. “At the same time, we’re seeing strong interest from air conditioning engineers who want to move into heat pumps. They already have many of the core skills, and with the right training, they can take advantage of the growing demand for low-carbon heating.
“Our focus is on making that transition simple, giving installers the training, accreditation and confidence they need to expand their offer and grow their business.”
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Commenting on an Energy & Utilities Alliance (EUA) report, The cost of retrofitting heat pumps in the UK, which reveals heat pump policy is costing taxpayers and bill payers up to £500 million, EUA chief executive Mike Foster said… “The most striking finding is not the number of heat pumps being installed, but the extent to which the market remains dependent on subsidy. When 91 percent of installations rely on public support, it is impossible to claim there is a genuine consumer-led market. “Taxpayers and energy consumers contributed almost £500 million last year to support fewer than 50,000 retrofit installations. Before asking households to fund even more support, ministers should be able to explain what value they are getting for that money.
“At £437 per tonne of carbon saved, this policy appears expensive compared with many other carbon reduction options available to government. At a time of intense pressure on public finances, value for money should matter.”
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Responding to the latest research from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), which shows that only 27% of adopted local plans and 53% of emerging local plans require a cooling or ventilation strategy to manage overheating in new buildings, Steve Molloy, sustainability & commercial solutions manager at Daikin is warning that the research overlooks a crucial aspect of this important issue. He said: “This statistic around local planning engagement with climate change mitigation is troubling in itself, but the RTPI report focuses almost entirely on passive measures such as shading and ventilation, which misses a vital part of the picture. While these passive intervantions are clearly important, in a warming climate where extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, they are unlikely to be enough on their own, particularly for existing building stock and vulnerable settings like care homes and hospitals. “In fact, this was highlighted in a Climate Change Committee report as recently as May this year, which called for urgent investment in active cooling, including air- conditioning, in public buildings where occupants are most at-risk of overheating, such as schools, hospitals and care homes. What’s more, while Part O of the Building Regulations governs overheating in new residential buildings, there is a significant gap in the legislation concerning commercial and retrofit building stock.
“Looking ahead, planning policy needs to go further in encouraging the adoption of technologies that can address the challenges of decarbonisation and climate control simultaneously. Reversible systems such as air-to-air heat pumps offer an efficient, low-carbon route to both heating and cooling from a single piece of plant, yet they remain largely absent from planning guidance. Without clearer policy support for this kind of dual-function technology, local authorities risk missing a vital piece of the climate mitigation puzzle.”
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