Dark Fiber Market by Fiber Type, Network Type, Material, End-user

List of Tables

[189 Pages Report] The Dark Fiber Market size was estimated at USD 7.16 billion in 2023 and expected to reach USD 8.09 billion in 2024, at a CAGR 13.24% to reach USD 17.12 billion by 2030.

Dark fiber, also known as unlit fiber, refers to a spare network fiber utilized in telecom and network communications and is a point-to-point connectivity option for securely delivering high-speed data applications. Unlimited bandwidth, high scalability, complete network control, and support cloud capabilities are the significant benefits of dark fiber. Universities and other government organizations frequently choose dark fiber to build their networks due to the improved security and flexibility of administering their networks directly. However, complicated installation and inadequate monitoring systems have impeded the expansion of the technology. The dark fiber industry is driven by increasing internet service penetration, a desire for dependable and secure networks, and rising demand for internet bandwidth. Furthermore, technical improvements and the growing demand for intensive data handling in manufacturing and logistics provide additional room for the dark fiber market to expand. Moreover, dark fiber is scalable and allows the creation of a personalized network for organizations without investing in fiber-optic infrastructure. Fueled by 5G, edge computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and ultra-high-definition video, many enterprises are increasingly turning their attention toward investing in dark fiber connectivity.

KEY MARKET STATISTICS
Base Year [2023]	USD 7.16 billion
Estimated Year [2024]	USD 8.09 billion
Forecast Year [2030]	USD 17.12 billion
CAGR (%)	13.24%

Fiber Type: Growing demand for multimode fiber for use in local-area network (LAN) systems and video surveillance

A multimode fiber can transmit multiple modes (or light channels) simultaneously as it has a wider core diameter than a single-mode fiber. This makes multimode fiber ideal for applications requiring shorter distances, such as those found on campus or within a building, where data rates of up to 10 gigabits per second can be reached. On the other hand, single-mode fiber has a smaller core diameter and transmits only one light mode. This allows it to transmit data over much longer distances than multimode fiber, making it ideal for long-haul applications, such as between cities or even across continents.

Network Type: Rising adoption of metro networks for connecting locations within a metropolitan area

Long haul refers to telecommunications infrastructure that spans a considerable distance, such as fiber optic cables that link cities or nations. These cables often transmit large amounts of data over long distances, and telecommunications companies or organizations may own them. On the other hand, a metro network is a telecommunications infrastructure that serves a more condensed geographic area, such as a city or metropolitan area. As a result, the metro for dark fiber could refer to a system of underutilized fiber optic cables that primarily exist inside a certain city or metropolitan area. This may present a chance for telecom firms or other businesses to lease or buy this black fiber and utilize it to develop their networks or offer new services.

Material: Rising application of glass optical fibers for long-haul and metropolitan networks

Glass fibers, also known as optical fibers, are predominantly made from silica and are widely used in telecommunications due to their efficient data transmission over long distances. The need for glass fibers arises from their superior properties, including minimal signal loss, high bandwidth capacity, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. Customers prioritizing high performance and reliability for their network infrastructure tend to prefer glass fibers. Plastic optical fibers, while less common than glass, are increasingly used for short-range data communication applications. They are composed primarily of polymer materials and offer benefits such as flexibility, lower cost, and ease of installation compared to glass fibers. While glass fibers dominate the dark fiber market due to their superior transmission qualities, plastic fibers offer an alternative for specific use cases where their strengths can be fully leveraged. Ongoing advancements in glass and plastic fiber technologies suggest a dynamic and evolving market that aims to address various consumer needs.

End-user: Wider adoption of dark fibers for supporting mission-critical operation

The BFSI sector needs secure, reliable, and high-capacity communications infrastructure to handle large volumes of financial transactions and data transfers. Dark fiber offers this sector an unparalleled level of security and control over their communications, enabling BFSI institutions to support their bandwidth-intensive applications, such as real-time market data feeds, secure transactions, and compliance with regulatory requirements. The healthcare sector relies on dark fiber for rapid and secure transmission of large medical images, telemedicine services, and maintaining electronic health records. IT and telecommunications entities are the largest users of dark fiber networks, primarily due to the need for scalable infrastructure that can keep pace with burgeoning data traffic and the explosion of cloud-based services. The military and aerospace industries require highly secure and reliable communication systems for operations, data transmission, and remote sensing. The oil and gas industry benefits from dark fiber through enhanced exploration and production activities, which rely on high-speed data transfer for operations like seismic surveying and real-time monitoring of remote drilling sites. The railway sector utilizes dark fiber for advanced signal systems, operational management, and enhanced passenger services such as high-speed internet access.

Regional Insights

The dark fiber market in the Americas is proliferating with exponentially increasing expansion scenarios in the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and other countries. The rising demand for dark fiber networks in North America has helped companies grow significantly as consumers become more aware of the advantages of dark fibers and with ongoing digital transformation activities. In the Americas region, market players from different sectors are forming agreements and working together with dark fiber providers as the market provides an opportunity to diversify the business and use the fiber network. Asia-Pacific countries such as Japan, South Korea, and some parts of China are gradually shifting their focus toward adopting dark fiber networks by increasing consumer awareness of the technology and making regulatory changes. In this context, the BharatNet project made an effort to raise awareness in rural areas of the nation as part of the government of India's Digital India program to provide a high-speed connection to rural areas at reasonable costs. In Europe, dark fiber demand is rising as digital infrastructure components such as data centers, edge computing, and mobile infrastructure become more prevalent. The European Commission supports the adoption of innovative technologies and advancements as it directly contributes to the growth of the national economy.

FPNV Positioning Matrix

The FPNV Positioning Matrix is pivotal in evaluating the Dark Fiber Market. It offers a comprehensive assessment of vendors, examining key metrics related to Business Strategy and Product Satisfaction. This in-depth analysis empowers users to make well-informed decisions aligned with their requirements. Based on the evaluation, the vendors are then categorized into four distinct quadrants representing varying levels of success: Forefront (F), Pathfinder (P), Niche (N), or Vital (V).

Market Share Analysis

The Market Share Analysis is a comprehensive tool that provides an insightful and in-depth examination of the current state of vendors in the Dark Fiber Market. By meticulously comparing and analyzing vendor contributions in terms of overall revenue, customer base, and other key metrics, we can offer companies a greater understanding of their performance and the challenges they face when competing for market share. Additionally, this analysis provides valuable insights into the competitive nature of the sector, including factors such as accumulation, fragmentation dominance, and amalgamation traits observed over the base year period studied. With this expanded level of detail, vendors can make more informed decisions and devise effective strategies to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Key Company Profiles

The report delves into recent significant developments in the Dark Fiber Market, highlighting leading vendors and their innovative profiles. These include AT&T Inc., Cloudscene Pty Ltd., Cologix, Inc., Colt Technology Services Group Limited, Comcast Corporation, Consolidated Communications, Crown Castle Inc., Dark Fibre Africa (Pty) Ltd., Dobson, Equinix, Inc., euNetworks Group Limited, Eurofiber Group, FiberLight LLC, FirstLight, Frontier Communications Parent, Inc., GasLINE GmbH & Co. KG, GlobalConnect Group, Lumen Technologies, LuxConnect S.A., Lyntia Networks S.A.U., MOX Networks, LLC, Neos Network Limited, NGN GmbH & Co KG, Southern Company, Sterlite Power Transmission Limited, Superloop Limited, Ufinet Latam S.L.U., Verizon, Windstream Intellectual Property Services, LLC, Xenith IG, and Zayo Group, LLC.

Market Segmentation & Coverage

This research report categorizes the Dark Fiber Market to forecast the revenues and analyze trends in each of the following sub-markets:

Fiber Type
- Multimode Fiber
- Single Mode Fiber

Network Type
- Long Haul
- Metro

Material
- Glass
- Plastic

End-user
- Banking, Financial Services & Insurance
- Healthcare
- IT & Telecommunications
- Military & Aerospace
- Oil & Gas
- Railway

Region
- Americas
  - Argentina
  - Brazil
  - Canada
  - Mexico
  - United States
    - California
    - Florida
    - Illinois
    - New York
    - Ohio
    - Pennsylvania
    - Texas
- Asia-Pacific
  - Australia
  - China
  - India
  - Indonesia
  - Japan
  - Malaysia
  - Philippines
  - Singapore
  - South Korea
  - Taiwan
  - Thailand
  - Vietnam

Europe, Middle East & Africa
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Israel
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Poland
- Qatar
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom

The report offers valuable insights on the following aspects:

1. Market Penetration: It presents comprehensive information on the market provided by key players.

2. Market Development: It delves deep into lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the penetration across mature market segments.

3. Market Diversification: It provides detailed information on new product launches, untapped geographic regions, recent developments, and investments.

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: It conducts an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certifications, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players.

5. Product Development & Innovation: It offers intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments.

The report addresses key questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Dark Fiber Market?

2. Which products, segments, applications, and areas should one consider investing in over the forecast period in the Dark Fiber Market?

3. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Dark Fiber Market?

4. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Dark Fiber Market?

5. Which modes and strategic moves are suitable for entering the Dark Fiber Market?

Product Code: MRR-FD3F12D5399D

1. Preface

1.1. Objectives of the Study
1.2. Market Segmentation & Coverage
1.3. Years Considered for the Study
1.4. Currency & Pricing
1.5. Language
1.6. Stakeholders

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Define: Research Objective
2.2. Determine: Research Design
2.3. Prepare: Research Instrument
2.4. Collect: Data Source
2.5. Analyze: Data Interpretation
2.6. Formulate: Data Verification
2.7. Publish: Research Report
2.8. Repeat: Report Update

3. Executive Summary

4. Market Overview

5. Market Insights

5.1. Market Dynamics
- 5.1.1. Drivers
  - 5.1.1.1. Increased requirements of data and need for high-capacity internet services
  - 5.1.1.2. Partnerships between local governments and market players for dark fiber access
  - 5.1.1.3. High use of connected devices across enterprises and smart homes
- 5.1.2. Restraints
  - 5.1.2.1. Complex installation and maintenance of dark fibers
- 5.1.3. Opportunities
  - 5.1.3.1. Ongoing R&D and technological advancement in dark fibers with the introduction of 5G
  - 5.1.3.2. Growing investments in hyperscale data centers and availability of custom dark fiber
- 5.1.4. Challenges
  - 5.1.4.1. Unstructured regulations regarding the use and ownership of dark fiber
5.2. Market Segmentation Analysis
- 5.2.1. Fiber Type: Growing demand for multimode fiber for use in local-area network (LAN) systems and video surveillance
- 5.2.2. Network Type: Rising adoption of metro networks for connecting locations within a metropolitan area
- 5.2.3. Material: Rising application of glass optical fibers for long-haul and metropolitan networks
- 5.2.4. End-user: Wider adoption of dark fibers for supporting mission-critical operation
5.3. Market Trend Analysis
5.4. Cumulative Impact of Russia-Ukraine Conflict
5.5. Cumulative Impact of High Inflation
5.6. Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 5.6.1. Threat of New Entrants
- 5.6.2. Threat of Substitutes
- 5.6.3. Bargaining Power of Customers
- 5.6.4. Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 5.6.5. Industry Rivalry
5.7. Value Chain & Critical Path Analysis
5.8. Regulatory Framework Analysis
5.9. Client Customization

6. Dark Fiber Market, by Fiber Type

6.1. Introduction
6.2. Multimode Fiber
6.3. Single Mode Fiber

7. Dark Fiber Market, by Network Type

7.1. Introduction
7.2. Long Haul
7.3. Metro

8. Dark Fiber Market, by Material

8.1. Introduction
8.2. Glass
8.3. Plastic

9. Dark Fiber Market, by End-user

9.1. Introduction
9.2. Banking, Financial Services & Insurance
9.3. Healthcare
9.4. IT & Telecommunications
9.5. Military & Aerospace
9.6. Oil & Gas
9.7. Railway

10. Americas Dark Fiber Market

10.1. Introduction
10.2. Argentina
10.3. Brazil
10.4. Canada
10.5. Mexico
10.6. United States

11. Asia-Pacific Dark Fiber Market

11.1. Introduction
11.2. Australia
11.3. China
11.4. India
11.5. Indonesia
11.6. Japan
11.7. Malaysia
11.8. Philippines
11.9. Singapore
11.10. South Korea
11.11. Taiwan
11.12. Thailand
11.13. Vietnam

12. Europe, Middle East & Africa Dark Fiber Market

12.1. Introduction
12.2. Denmark
12.3. Egypt
12.4. Finland
12.5. France
12.6. Germany
12.7. Israel
12.8. Italy
12.9. Netherlands
12.10. Nigeria
12.11. Norway
12.12. Poland
12.13. Qatar
12.14. Russia
12.15. Saudi Arabia
12.16. South Africa
12.17. Spain
12.18. Sweden
12.19. Switzerland
12.20. Turkey
12.21. United Arab Emirates
12.22. United Kingdom

13. Competitive Landscape

13.1. Market Share Analysis, 2023
13.2. FPNV Positioning Matrix, 2023
13.3. Competitive Scenario Analysis
- 13.3.1. Lumen Wins USD 110 million Contract from Defense Information Systems Agency
- 13.3.2. Zayo to Expand Fiber Network Infrastructure Across the Nation
- 13.3.3. Bandwidth IG Adds Third Fully Diverse Dark Fiber Route to Its San Francisco Bay Area Network
- 13.3.4. euNetworks to Expand Dark Fibre Network With Belgian Acquisition
- 13.3.5. SummitIG Launches New, Dark Fiber Infrastructure in Greater Columbus
- 13.3.6. DFA and BCS Group partner for Zim backbone project
- 13.3.7. Zayo Unveils Latest Series of Infrastructure Expansions with 22 New Long-Haul Dark Fiber, 400G, and Transpacific Subsea Routes
- 13.3.8. Introducing Crosstown Fiber: A Chicagoland Dark Fiber Infrastructure Developer
- 13.3.9. Santee Cooper Applied for National Broadband Infrastructure Grant
- 13.3.10. Relined, GasLINE Jointly Offer Dark Fiber in Germany and the Netherlands
- 13.3.11. DigitalBridge and Columbia Capital Launch Xenith IG Fiber Platform in APAC
- 13.3.12. DC BLOX Acquires Network Assets from Light Source Communications and Ascendant Fiber Capital
- 13.3.13. Uniti Announces Dark Fiber Sale to Leading Network Infrastructure Provider

14. Competitive Portfolio

14.1. Key Company Profiles
14.2. Key Product Portfolio