Dark Fiber Market Analysis and Forecast by Size, Share, Growth, Trends 2031

The Dark Fiber Market size is projected to reach US$ 17.81 billion by 2031 from US$ 7.04 billion in 2023. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 12.30% during 2023–2031. Growing demand for data centers is likely to remain a key trend in the market.

Dark Fiber Market Analysis

Dark fiber technology is a sustainable solution for various organizations that are focusing on improved network management and communication. The enormous demand for internet bandwidth has been made possible by the steadily rising use of online services throughout time. This is by far the biggest driver driving market expansion worldwide. Businesses that heavily rely on internet connectivity for their operations considerably boost the dark fiber market. These networks are very helpful for businesses that handle large amounts of data flow. It helps in the reduction of network latency, scalability, reliability, and improved security. Furthermore, the growing deployment of the 5G network and smart city development is expected to fuel the growth of the dark fiber market in the forecasted period. Moreover, the increasing demand for data centers will propel the growth of the dark fiber market in the forecasted period.

Dark Fiber Market Overview

Unlit or "dark" fiber is the term for unseen optical fiber that is in the ground and can be rented or purchased from network service providers. For private networking, internet access, or internet infrastructure networking, it is utilized in fiber-optic communication. Businesses that use these networks may anticipate extremely fast speeds and robust security. Dark fiber may send numerous data signals across the same optical fiber at the same time by using wavelength division multiplexing, or DWDM. Also, with DWDM technology, dark fiber networks offer a high capacity and consume less power than more conventional ones.

Additionally, black fiber guarantees that companies will have nearly total control over their network architecture. Retail businesses, e-commerce, government agencies, and educational institutions are just a few industries that can benefit from dark fiber. Since they transfer enormous files containing sensitive data, the above industries need to have quick and secure internet access.

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Dark Fiber Market Drivers and Opportunities

Emergence of 5G

The 5G network is around 100 times faster than the 4G network, making real-time data acquisition easier. As the 5G network provides strong connectivity and high-speed data transfer, its demand is increasing worldwide. According to the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), 5G penetration worldwide is expected to reach 54% by 2031 from 17% in 2022. North America has the highest 5G penetration, with 39% in 2022; it is expected to reach 91% by 2031. 5G penetration in Asia Pacific (except China) and Europe is expected to increase from 4% and 11% in 2022 to 41% and 87% by 2031, respectively. As 5G is the critical new-generation network technology enabling innovation and supporting digital transformation, its demand is increasing worldwide. Therefore, the governments of various countries are investing in 5G infrastructure. In July 2021, the government of France announced its plan to invest about US$ 2.06 billion (EUR 1.7 billion) in its 5G market by 2031 via public and private investments. Through this, the government aims to accelerate the development of 5G in the country. Similarly, in January 2021, the government of South Korea announced that they would increase the coverage of the next-generation mobile networks, particularly 5G, to 85 cities this year from the current seven major cities. It invested around US$ 115.89 million (127.9 billion won) in 2021 to encourage the use of private 5G networks. Growing investments in 5G will also raise the need for dark fiber as it helps drastically reduce traffic congestion and wasteful rerouting along with providing lower latency and faster network speeds. Therefore, the emergence of a 5G network is fueling the growth of the dark fiber market.

Expansion of Telecommunication Infrastructure

The expansion of telecommunication infrastructure presents a significant opportunity for the dark fiber market to thrive and flourish. Governments and telecommunication companies worldwide are making substantial investments in the deployment of fiber-optic networks to enhance connectivity and support the growing demand for high-speed and reliable broadband services. In addition, with the proliferation of digital technologies and the increasing reliance on data-intensive applications, there is a surging demand for bandwidth. Furthermore, the expansion of telecommunication infrastructure also aims to bridge the digital divide by extending connectivity to rural and remote areas. Thus, the growing expansion of telecommunication infrastructure is expected to fuel the growth of the dark fiber market in the forecasted period.

Dark Fiber Market Report Segmentation Analysis

Key segments that contributed to the derivation of the dark fiber market analysis are fiber type, network type, and application.

• Based on fiber type, the dark fiber market is segmented into single–mode and multi–mode. The multi–mode segment is anticipated to witness significant growth in the forecasted period.
• Based on network type, the market is segmented into metro dark and long-haul. The long-haul segment is anticipated to witness significant growth in the forecasted period.
• Based on application, the market is segmented into BFSI, internet service providers (ISPs) and telecom, manufacturing, healthcare, and others. The Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecom segment are anticipated to witness significant growth in the forecasted period.

Dark Fiber Market Share Analysis by Geography

The geographic scope of the dark fiber market report is mainly divided into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South & Central America.

North America is anticipated to witness significant growth in the forecasted period. North American countries like the US and Canada have been pioneers in the adoption of new technology and automation across their businesses over the years. Also, owing to the rising demand for high-speed internet access, the demand for dark fiber is increasing in the region. In addition, the region's booming IT and telecommunications sectors are driving market expansion even further. High-end connectivity has become very important in North America as bandwidth needs and the demand for dependable and high-capacity networks have increased. Furthermore, the continuous need for high-speed internet across numerous industries is fueling the growth of the dark fiber market in the region.

Dark Fiber Market Regional Insights

The regional trends and factors influencing the Dark Fiber Market throughout the forecast period have been thoroughly explained by the analysts at Insight Partners. This section also discusses Dark Fiber Market segments and geography across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America.

Dark Fiber Market Report Scope

Dark Fiber Market Players Density: Understanding Its Impact on Business Dynamics

The Dark Fiber Market market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing end-user demand due to factors such as evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and greater awareness of the product's benefits. As demand rises, businesses are expanding their offerings, innovating to meet consumer needs, and capitalizing on emerging trends, which further fuels market growth.

Market players density refers to the distribution of firms or companies operating within a particular market or industry. It indicates how many competitors (market players) are present in a given market space relative to its size or total market value.

Major Companies operating in the Dark Fiber Market are:

1. Lumen Technologies, Inc.
2. Cologix
3. Colt Technology Services Group Limited
4. Crown Castle
5. Dinesh Engineers Limited
6. FirstLight

Disclaimer: The companies listed above are not ranked in any particular order.

Dark Fiber Market News and Recent Developments

The dark fiber market is evaluated by gathering qualitative and quantitative data post primary and secondary research, which includes important corporate publications, association data, and databases. A few of the developments in the Dark Fiber Market are listed below:

• Fluxys Belgium and GasLINE signed an infrastructure cooperation agreement to facilitate fiber-optic network expansion in Western Europe. Both companies have large networks in their respective countries, Belgium and Germany. As a telecommunications hub with international relevance, Frankfurt am Main is an important destination for Fluxys Belgium’s dark fiber customers and GasLINE, which is expanding its marketable fiber-optic infrastructure specifically into neighboring countries. (Source: Fluxys, Press Release, 2023)
• EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure announced its partnership with Zayo, a leading global communications infrastructure provider, to bring dark fiber connectivity to its 72MW Silicon Valley data center campus in Santa Clara, CA, to Zayo's global network, providing customers with resilient, diverse routes for current use and future expansion. Through Zayo's expansive, Tier-1 fiber network, including over 200 IP points of presence (PoPs) across the United States, customers at EdgeCore's Silicon Valley campus will have access to fast, diverse, and reliable connectivity with guaranteed bandwidth to support their business needs. Zayo's future-ready network infrastructure accommodates EdgeCore customers' evolving needs for scale, rapid deployment of additional bandwidth, cloud connectivity, customer end-point connectivity, and more. (Source: EdgeCore, Press Release, 2023)

Dark Fiber Market Report Coverage and Deliverables

The “Dark Fiber Market Size and Forecast (2021–2031)” report provides a detailed analysis of the market covering below areas:

• Dark fiber market size and forecast at global, regional, and country levels for all the key market segments covered under the scope
• Dark fiber market trends as well as market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and key opportunities
• Detailed PEST/Porter’s Five Forces and SWOT analysis
• Dark fiber market analysis covering key market trends, global and regional framework, major players, regulations, and recent market developments
• Industry landscape and competition analysis covering market concentration, heat map analysis, prominent players, and recent developments for the dark fiber market
• Detailed company profiles