Prysmian and the Future of AI Infrastructure in Asia-Pacific

As Asia-Pacific accelerates both its energy transition and AI-led digital expansion, Prysmian is reinforcing its long-term role in supporting the infrastructure that underpins next-generation data centres.

With five decades of continuous operations in Singapore, the cable solutions provider is positioning itself to address the rising power, connectivity and sustainability demands of AI-driven facilities across the region.

As AI reshapes compute intensity and power density, the supporting infrastructure is coming under renewed scrutiny.

"We are working in Europe, in LatAm and APAC 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," Massimo Battaini, CEO of Prysmian, told investors in a recent earnings call.

Prysmian’s global footprint spans power grids, renewable energy systems and digital networks, placing it at the intersection of energy and data infrastructure.

As hyperscale and enterprise operators expand across Southeast Asia and beyond, reliable and efficient cabling is becoming a foundational enabler of AI performance, uptime and scalability.

AI workloads drive new infrastructure pressures

The rapid rise of AI data centres is introducing structural changes in infrastructure requirements.

These facilities demand significantly higher power density, advanced digital connectivity and dependable thermal performance to support intensive compute workloads running around the clock.

At the same time, global supply chains are under pressure. Scarcity of key raw materials, particularly copper, is affecting both cost and availability.

This dynamic is being felt across the wider technology ecosystem, where prices for components such as solid-state drives and graphics processing units have risen by as much as 30%, largely driven by AI-related demand.

For data centre developers and operators, the convergence of surging demand and constrained supply is intensifying the need for infrastructure solutions that maximise efficiency while reducing material usage.

Cabling systems play a central role in this equation, influencing power delivery, space utilisation, thermal behaviour and long-term operating costs.

Engineering innovation for high-density AI facilities

In response to these pressures, Prysmian has continued to develop cable technologies designed to balance performance, efficiency and sustainability in high-density environments.

In Southeast Asia, the company has introduced a new power cable design capable of delivering the same power as conventional cables while using less copper and featuring a smaller overall diameter. The design has already been deployed in major data centres in other regions and is tailored specifically for space-constrained, high-density AI facilities.

The innovation is enabled by advanced optimisation of insulation and sheathing materials, allowing safe operation at temperatures of up to 110 degrees Celsius compared with the industry norm of 90 degrees Celsius. Higher thermal tolerance supports greater power density without compromising reliability.

Discussing Prysmian’s partnership with Relativity Networks, Frederick Persson, Executive Vice President of Digital Solutions, says: “Prysmian has long been a global champion in setting the standard in the field of fiber 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 fiber 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."

Reduced copper usage not only lowers the carbon footprint associated with production but also helps mitigate material cost volatility. Smaller, lighter cables simplify transport and installation, while a reduced bending radius supports tighter layouts and more efficient use of space within white and grey areas.

Speed, scale and regional delivery

Speed of deployment and space efficiency are increasingly critical as data centres scale to support AI workloads.

Prysmian’s cable innovations are designed to support faster builds and phased expansion strategies, particularly in urban and high-density locations where floor space is limited.

Manufacturing capability within Asia-Pacific also plays a strategic role.

Prysmian’s facility in Rayong, Thailand, which specialises in low-voltage cable production, supports both regional electrification and growing data centre demand.

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

Global scale and long-term sustainability

Prysmian’s ability to support AI data centre growth is underpinned by its global scale, with 107 plants, 27 R&D centres and more than 33,000 employees worldwide.

In 2024, the group reported revenues exceeding €17bn (US$20.2bn), reflecting its reach across energy and digital infrastructure markets.

Sustainability remains central to Prysmian's technology roadmap.

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 AI data centre operators facing mounting carbon reduction targets, efficient cabling that reduces material use and supports lower losses is becoming a practical operational consideration.

As AI continues to reshape power and connectivity demand across Asia-Pacific, Prysmian’s focus on local capability, material efficiency and scalable design positions it to support the next phase of regional AI infrastructure development.