AI data center demand strains Ukraine’s drone fiber supply, Ars Technica reports

Ars Technica reports that AI data center expansion is adding pressure to the optical fiber supply used by Ukrainian drones. BlueBird Tech’s Oleksiy says prices rose roughly six- to tenfold between 2025 and 2026, though conditions have partly stabilized since March. Some manufacturers are winding drone spools in-house to improve quality and reduce costs, he says, but still depend on Chinese fiber.