Dark Fiber Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast Segmented By Fiber, By Network Type, By Material, By End User, By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Description

The Global Dark Fiber Market will grow from USD 10.37 Billion in 2025 to USD 21.49 Billion by 2031 at a 12.91% CAGR. Dark fiber refers to unlit optical fiber infrastructure that has been deployed but remains unused, allowing clients to lease the physical cabling and apply their own transmission equipment. This arrangement grants organizations direct control over network scalability, security protocols, and latency management.

Market Overview
Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size 2025	USD 10.37 Billion
Market Size 2031	USD 21.49 Billion
CAGR 2026-2031	12.91%
Fastest Growing Segment	BFSI
Largest Market	Asia Pacific

Key Market Drivers

The accelerated deployment of 5G networks and telecommunication infrastructure serves as a foundational driver for the dark fiber market, necessitating an extensive densification of optical backhaul to support high-speed mobile connectivity. Telecommunication operators and infrastructure providers are aggressively expanding their fiber footprints to accommodate the surging data traffic and low-latency requirements of next-generation mobile applications. This build-out is critical for connecting a growing mesh of small cells and macro towers to core networks, ensuring that physical assets can scale with subscriber demand.

Key Market Challenges

High capital expenditures and complex regulatory procedures constitute a formidable barrier to the growth of the Global Dark Fiber Market. Constructing the physical infrastructure required for dark fiber involves significant upfront investment in civil engineering tasks such as trenching and boring, as well as the procurement of rights-of-way permits from multiple municipal and governmental bodies. These regulatory hurdles often result in extended project timelines and unpredictable costs, which directly impacts the return on investment for infrastructure providers.

Key Market Trends

The Consolidation of Fiber Assets by Infrastructure Funds and REITs is fundamentally restructuring the competitive landscape of the Global Dark Fiber Market. Investment groups are aggressively acquiring fragmented fiber networks to assemble contiguous, high-capacity footprints capable of supporting nationwide artificial intelligence and cloud workloads. This trend allows operators to rapidly scale their route mileage without the extensive delays associated with new construction permitting, effectively bypassing regulatory bottlenecks while securing valuable rights-of-way.

Key Market Players

AT&T Intellectual Property
COLT TECHNOLOGY SERVICES GROUP LIMITED
Consolidated Communications
GTT Communications, Inc.
Level 3 Communications, Inc.
NTT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Verizon Communications, Inc.
Windstream Communications
Zayo Group
Comcast

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Dark Fiber Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

Dark Fiber Market, By Fiber:

Step-index
Graded-Index

Dark Fiber Market, By Network Type:

Metro
Long Haul

Dark Fiber Market, By Material:

Glass
Plastic

Dark Fiber Market, By End User:

Telecommunication
BFSI
Aerospace
Oil & Gas
Healthcare

Dark Fiber Market, By Region:

North America
United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe
France
United Kingdom
Italy
Germany
Spain
Asia Pacific
China
India
Japan
Australia
South Korea
South America
Brazil
Argentina
Colombia
Middle East & Africa
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Dark Fiber Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Dark Fiber Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

1. Product Overview

1.1. Market Definition
1.2. Scope of the Market
- 1.2.1. Markets Covered
- 1.2.2. Years Considered for Study
- 1.2.3. Key Market Segmentations

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Objective of the Study
2.2. Baseline Methodology
2.3. Key Industry Partners
2.4. Major Association and Secondary Sources
2.5. Forecasting Methodology
2.6. Data Triangulation & Validation
2.7. Assumptions and Limitations

3. Executive Summary

3.1. Overview of the Market
3.2. Overview of Key Market Segmentations
3.3. Overview of Key Market Players
3.4. Overview of Key Regions/Countries
3.5. Overview of Market Drivers, Challenges, Trends

4. Voice of Customer

5. Global Dark Fiber Market Outlook

5.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 5.1.1. By Value
5.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 5.2.1. By Fiber (Step-index, Graded-Index)
- 5.2.2. By Network Type (Metro, Long Haul)
- 5.2.3. By Material (Glass, Plastic)
- 5.2.4. By End User (Telecommunication, BFSI, Aerospace, Oil & Gas, Healthcare)
- 5.2.5. By Region
- 5.2.6. By Company (2025)
5.3. Market Map

6. North America Dark Fiber Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 6.1.1. By Value
6.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 6.2.1. By Fiber
- 6.2.2. By Network Type
- 6.2.3. By Material
- 6.2.4. By End User
- 6.2.5. By Country
6.3. North America: Country Analysis
- 6.3.1. United States Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 6.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 6.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 6.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 6.3.1.2.1. By Fiber
    - 6.3.1.2.2. By Network Type
    - 6.3.1.2.3. By Material
    - 6.3.1.2.4. By End User
- 6.3.2. Canada Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 6.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 6.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 6.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 6.3.2.2.1. By Fiber
    - 6.3.2.2.2. By Network Type
    - 6.3.2.2.3. By Material
    - 6.3.2.2.4. By End User
- 6.3.3. Mexico Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 6.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 6.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 6.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 6.3.3.2.1. By Fiber
    - 6.3.3.2.2. By Network Type
    - 6.3.3.2.3. By Material
    - 6.3.3.2.4. By End User

7. Europe Dark Fiber Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 7.1.1. By Value
7.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 7.2.1. By Fiber
- 7.2.2. By Network Type
- 7.2.3. By Material
- 7.2.4. By End User
- 7.2.5. By Country
7.3. Europe: Country Analysis
- 7.3.1. Germany Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 7.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.1.2.1. By Fiber
    - 7.3.1.2.2. By Network Type
    - 7.3.1.2.3. By Material
    - 7.3.1.2.4. By End User
- 7.3.2. France Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 7.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.2.2.1. By Fiber
    - 7.3.2.2.2. By Network Type
    - 7.3.2.2.3. By Material
    - 7.3.2.2.4. By End User
- 7.3.3. United Kingdom Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 7.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.3.2.1. By Fiber
    - 7.3.3.2.2. By Network Type
    - 7.3.3.2.3. By Material
    - 7.3.3.2.4. By End User
- 7.3.4. Italy Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 7.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.4.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.4.2.1. By Fiber
    - 7.3.4.2.2. By Network Type
    - 7.3.4.2.3. By Material
    - 7.3.4.2.4. By End User
- 7.3.5. Spain Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 7.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.5.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.5.2.1. By Fiber
    - 7.3.5.2.2. By Network Type
    - 7.3.5.2.3. By Material
    - 7.3.5.2.4. By End User

8. Asia Pacific Dark Fiber Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 8.1.1. By Value
8.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 8.2.1. By Fiber
- 8.2.2. By Network Type
- 8.2.3. By Material
- 8.2.4. By End User
- 8.2.5. By Country
8.3. Asia Pacific: Country Analysis
- 8.3.1. China Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 8.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.1.2.1. By Fiber
    - 8.3.1.2.2. By Network Type
    - 8.3.1.2.3. By Material
    - 8.3.1.2.4. By End User
- 8.3.2. India Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 8.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.2.2.1. By Fiber
    - 8.3.2.2.2. By Network Type
    - 8.3.2.2.3. By Material
    - 8.3.2.2.4. By End User
- 8.3.3. Japan Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 8.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.3.2.1. By Fiber
    - 8.3.3.2.2. By Network Type
    - 8.3.3.2.3. By Material
    - 8.3.3.2.4. By End User
- 8.3.4. South Korea Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 8.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.4.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.4.2.1. By Fiber
    - 8.3.4.2.2. By Network Type
    - 8.3.4.2.3. By Material
    - 8.3.4.2.4. By End User
- 8.3.5. Australia Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 8.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.5.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.5.2.1. By Fiber
    - 8.3.5.2.2. By Network Type
    - 8.3.5.2.3. By Material
    - 8.3.5.2.4. By End User

9. Middle East & Africa Dark Fiber Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 9.1.1. By Value
9.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 9.2.1. By Fiber
- 9.2.2. By Network Type
- 9.2.3. By Material
- 9.2.4. By End User
- 9.2.5. By Country
9.3. Middle East & Africa: Country Analysis
- 9.3.1. Saudi Arabia Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 9.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 9.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 9.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 9.3.1.2.1. By Fiber
    - 9.3.1.2.2. By Network Type
    - 9.3.1.2.3. By Material
    - 9.3.1.2.4. By End User
- 9.3.2. UAE Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 9.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 9.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 9.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 9.3.2.2.1. By Fiber
    - 9.3.2.2.2. By Network Type
    - 9.3.2.2.3. By Material
    - 9.3.2.2.4. By End User
- 9.3.3. South Africa Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 9.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 9.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 9.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 9.3.3.2.1. By Fiber
    - 9.3.3.2.2. By Network Type
    - 9.3.3.2.3. By Material
    - 9.3.3.2.4. By End User

10. South America Dark Fiber Market Outlook

10.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 10.1.1. By Value
10.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 10.2.1. By Fiber
- 10.2.2. By Network Type
- 10.2.3. By Material
- 10.2.4. By End User
- 10.2.5. By Country
10.3. South America: Country Analysis
- 10.3.1. Brazil Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 10.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 10.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 10.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 10.3.1.2.1. By Fiber
    - 10.3.1.2.2. By Network Type
    - 10.3.1.2.3. By Material
    - 10.3.1.2.4. By End User
- 10.3.2. Colombia Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 10.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 10.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 10.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 10.3.2.2.1. By Fiber
    - 10.3.2.2.2. By Network Type
    - 10.3.2.2.3. By Material
    - 10.3.2.2.4. By End User
- 10.3.3. Argentina Dark Fiber Market Outlook
  - 10.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 10.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 10.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 10.3.3.2.1. By Fiber
    - 10.3.3.2.2. By Network Type
    - 10.3.3.2.3. By Material
    - 10.3.3.2.4. By End User

11. Market Dynamics

11.1. Drivers
11.2. Challenges

12. Market Trends & Developments

12.1. Merger & Acquisition (If Any)
12.2. Product Launches (If Any)
12.3. Recent Developments

13. Global Dark Fiber Market: SWOT Analysis

14. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

14.1. Competition in the Industry
14.2. Potential of New Entrants
14.3. Power of Suppliers
14.4. Power of Customers
14.5. Threat of Substitute Products

15. Competitive Landscape

15.1. AT&T Intellectual Property
- 15.1.1. Business Overview
- 15.1.2. Products & Services
- 15.1.3. Recent Developments
- 15.1.4. Key Personnel
- 15.1.5. SWOT Analysis
15.2. COLT TECHNOLOGY SERVICES GROUP LIMITED
15.3. Consolidated Communications
15.4. GTT Communications, Inc.
15.5. Level 3 Communications, Inc.
15.6. NTT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
15.7. Verizon Communications, Inc.
15.8. Windstream Communications
15.9. Zayo Group
15.10. Comcast