U.S. Dark Fiber Network Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025

Description

The U.S. dark fiber network market reached USD 1.1 billion in 2024, and is projected to grow to USD 2.4 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2025 to 2032. This growth is propelled by sharply rising demand for high-bandwidth, ultra-low latency infrastructure to support 5G telecommunications, cloud services, data center deployments, enterprise AI, and IoT applications. Legacy fibers-installed during the boom years of the 1990s and early 2000s-are being revived via leasing to meet skyrocketing network capacity needs.

Major technology and telecom providers are increasingly turning to dark fiber to achieve private, scalable, and secure connectivity, while metro and long-haul expansions align with surging traffic from video streaming and remote working.

Key Insights

Fiber Type Segmentation: Multi-mode fiber dominates with approximately 70% market share in 2024, and it leads in growth at around 11.1% CAGR, favored for short-to-medium haul enterprise and data center applications.

Material Usage: Glass fiber accounts for about 65% of the market in 2024, and also leads in growth-reflecting its superior transmission performance and scalability.

Network Type Trends: Long-haul deployment makes up around 70% market share in 2024, expanding fastest at an expected 11.5% CAGR, driven by backbone and intercity infrastructure demand.

Application Highlight: The IT & Telecom sector comprises the largest application segment at ~35% share, and is poised for strongest growth amid escalating needs for 5G backhaul, edge computing, and enterprise-grade private networks.

Regional Outlook: The Western U.S. holds the largest market share (about 40% in 2024) and is expected to grow fastest over the forecast period, owing to dense data center activity and early fiber infrastructure investments.

Competitive Landscape: The market remains fragmented-key players include AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Lumen Technologies, Zayo Group, Consolidated Communications, and regional fiber providers across metro areas.

Key Drivers: The rise of 5G networks, AI and cloud-driven traffic growth, and demand for bandwidth-intensive enterprise applications are major growth catalysts. Dark fiber offers exclusive control, scalability, and reduced latency relative to traditional lit services.

Market Dynamics: Organizations are leveraging dark fiber for redundancy, disaster recovery, and private networking beyond shared infrastructure-especially in high-risk or latency-sensitive sectors like finance, healthcare, and aerospace.

Growth Opportunities: Smart-city deployment, urban densification, edge computing, and hyperscale data center expansion present high-value growth areas. Regional fiber leases are favored for high-speed, low-latency enterprise connectivity.

Future Potential: Continued investment into long-haul and metro fiber, combined with evolving enterprise telecom needs, ensures dark fiber remains a strategic asset in the digital infrastructure roadmap.

Product Code: 13565

Chapter 1. Research Scope

1.1. Research Objectives
1.2. Market Definition
1.3. Analysis Period
1.4. Market Size Breakdown by Segments
- 1.4.1. Market Size Breakdown, by Fiber Type
- 1.4.2. Market Size Breakdown, by Material
- 1.4.3. Market Size Breakdown, by Network Type
- 1.4.4. Market Size Breakdown, by Technology
- 1.4.5. Market Size Breakdown, by Application
1.5. Market Data Reporting Unit
- 1.5.1. Revenue
1.6. Key Stakeholders

Chapter 2. Research Methodology

2.1. Secondary Research
- 2.1.1. Paid
- 2.1.2. Unpaid
- 2.1.3. P&S Intelligence Database
2.2. Primary Research
2.3. Market Size Estimation
2.4. Data Triangulation
2.5. Currency Conversion Rates
2.6. Assumptions for the Study
2.7. Notes and Caveats

Chapter 3. Executive Summary

Chapter 4. Market Indicators

Chapter 5. Industry Outlook

5.1. Industry Background
5.2. Market Dynamics
- 5.2.1. Trends
- 5.2.2. Drivers
- 5.2.3. Restraints/Challenges
- 5.2.4. Emerging Economies and Key Opportunities
- 5.2.5. Impact Analysis of Drivers/Restraints
5.3. Impact of COVID-19
5.4. Sociopolitical Impact
5.5. Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 5.5.1. Bargaining Power of Buyers
- 5.5.2. Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 5.5.3. Threat of New Entrants
- 5.5.4. Intensity of Rivalry
- 5.5.5. Threat of Substitutes
5.6. Innovation and Technology Trends
5.7. Economic and Regulatory Impact
5.8. Market Entry Strategies

Chapter 6. Competitive Landscape

6.1. List of Market Players and their Offerings
6.2. Market Share of Key Players (2024)
6.3. Competitive Benchmarking of Key Players
6.4. Product Benchmarking of Key Players
6.5. Recent Strategic Developments by Key Players
6.6. Company Leadership Matrix

Chapter 7. U.S. Market

7.1. Overview
7.2. Market Revenue, by Fiber Type (2019-2032)
7.3. Market Revenue, by Material (2019-2032)
7.4. Market Revenue, by Network Type (2019-2032)
7.5. Market Revenue, by Technology (2019-2032)
7.6. Market Revenue, by Application (2019-2032)
7.7. Market Revenue, by Country (2019-2032)

Chapter 8. Northeast Market

8.1. Overview
8.2. Economic Indicators
8.3. Demographics and Population Insights
8.4. Regional Hotspots
8.5. Growth Drivers
8.6. Challenges and Barriers
8.7. Competitive Strategies
8.8. Emerging Players
8.9. Import/Export Policies
8.10. Compliance Requirements
8.11. Emerging Investment Areas
8.12. Major Ongoing Projects
8.13. Market Size and Forecast
- 8.13.1. Market Revenue, by Fiber Type (2019-2032)
- 8.13.2. Market Revenue, by Material (2019-2032)
- 8.13.3. Market Revenue, by Network Type (2019-2032)
- 8.13.4. Market Revenue, by Technology (2019-2032)
- 8.13.5. Market Revenue, by Application (2019-2032)

Chapter 9. West Market

9.1. Overview
9.2. Economic Indicators
9.3. Demographics and Population Insights
9.4. Regional Hotspots
9.5. Growth Drivers
9.6. Challenges and Barriers
9.7. Competitive Strategies
9.8. Emerging Players
9.9. Import/Export Policies
9.10. Compliance Requirements
9.11. Emerging Investment Areas
9.12. Major Ongoing Projects
9.13. Market Size and Forecast
- 9.13.1. Market Revenue, by Fiber Type (2019-2032)
- 9.13.2. Market Revenue, by Material (2019-2032)
- 9.13.3. Market Revenue, by Network Type (2019-2032)
- 9.13.4. Market Revenue, by Technology (2019-2032)
- 9.13.5. Market Revenue, by Application (2019-2032)

Chapter 10. Midwest Market

10.1. Overview
10.2. Economic Indicators
10.3. Demographics and Population Insights
10.4. Regional Hotspots
10.5. Growth Drivers
10.6. Challenges and Barriers
10.7. Competitive Strategies
10.8. Emerging Players
10.9. Import/Export Policies
10.10. Compliance Requirements
10.11. Emerging Investment Areas
10.12. Major Ongoing Projects
10.13. Market Size and Forecast
- 10.13.1. Market Revenue, by Fiber Type (2019-2032)
- 10.13.2. Market Revenue, by Material (2019-2032)
- 10.13.3. Market Revenue, by Network Type (2019-2032)
- 10.13.4. Market Revenue, by Technology (2019-2032)
- 10.13.5. Market Revenue, by Application (2019-2032)

Chapter 11. South Market

11.1. Overview
11.2. Economic Indicators
11.3. Demographics and Population Insights
11.4. Regional Hotspots
11.5. Growth Drivers
11.6. Challenges and Barriers
11.7. Competitive Strategies
11.8. Emerging Players
11.9. Import/Export Policies
11.10. Compliance Requirements
11.11. Emerging Investment Areas
11.12. Major Ongoing Projects
11.13. Market Size and Forecast
- 11.13.1. Market Revenue, by Fiber Type (2019-2032)
- 11.13.2. Market Revenue, by Material (2019-2032)
- 11.13.3. Market Revenue, by Network Type (2019-2032)
- 11.13.4. Market Revenue, by Technology (2019-2032)
- 11.13.5. Market Revenue, by Application (2019-2032)

Chapter 12. Company Profiles

Chapter 13. Appendix

13.1. Sources and References
13.2. Related Reports

U.S. Dark Fiber Network Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)