Dark Fiber: What is it and What are the Benefits?

‍Dark fiber is the term used for an optical fiber cable that has been laid but is not in use. In standard fiber cables, light pulses are used to send information, these cables are referred to as ‘dark’ when they are not in use as there are no light pulses being transmitted through them. There are thousands of kilometers of dark fiber cables across the globe. 

Dark fiber cables are so prolific as many companies overestimate the total amount of supplies and cables needed when installing their network. This overestimation is necessary to ensure that the fiber network is able to handle the necessary amount of data as the business and data requirements grow. However, this means that several optical fiber networks to have unused additional space. 

What Is Dark Fiber Used For?

Dark fiber networks have a high capacity and enable excellent signal strength as data. Dark fiber networks operate separately from the standard networks that are controlled by traditional internet service providers and are instead controlled by a private owner.

Companies and other organizations benefit from the bandwidth of dark fiber, which can power high data demands. Dark fiber is also beneficial for businesses as it gives them control over the network infrastructure, which is particularly important for government institutions, schools, e-commerce, and retailers. Dark fiber can be purchased from private owners for use by other individuals and businesses.

The Key Benefits of Building a Dark Fiber Network

For larger businesses and organizations, owning and operating a private fiber-optic network is often more cost-effective, while simultaneously providing a range of benefits, as follows: 

• Scalability: When an organization is expanding, they may not have the necessary bandwidth available to operate efficiently. Requesting more bandwidth from an internet service provider can be time-consuming and expensive. With dark fiber, on the other hand, bandwidth capacity can be increased quickly through upgrading the equipment powering the fiber.
• Low Network Latency:  Certain businesses and organizations require low network latency to ensure quick communication between different point to point communication portals.  As dark fiber networks are purchased and installed privately, the owner has complete control over the latency of the network. In addition, the network is used exclusively by the owner, so businesses don’t have to worry about sharing bandwidth with other users, which can slow down performance. 
• Cost Benefits: While set up costs for dark fiber can be high, operators who choose this type of network can save money long-term, as they won’t have to pay fees imposed by internet service providers for increasing their current level of service. Dark fiber is particularly cost effective for organizations with high data requirements.
• Increased Reliability: Dark fiber networks provide a more reliable, flexible, and quicker bandwidth service than traditional internet service providers. If an issue arises, dark fiber network operators are equipped to handle it, while sending a request to an internet service provider to identify and solve the issue can take much longer. This means that downtime can be minimized if any problems arise. 
• Increased Security: As dark fiber networks are privately owned and operated by the organization, external entities cannot track the data and information being transmitted through the fiber. This is particularly important for businesses and organizations operating in sensitive industries such as financial services, defense and healthcare that require a secure network.  

The Disadvantages of Private Dark Fiber Networks

While the advantages of running your own dark fiber network are undeniable, there are also drawbacks that should be considered. First, it can be expensive and time consuming to set up your own network infrastructure. In addition, availability is an important factor, as not every town or city will have dark fiber capabilities. Regular maintenance and repairing of the network can also be inconvenient and expensive for businesses. Furthermore, if significant repairs are necessary, it can be extremely expensive, so it is imperative that the network owner consistently monitors the condition of the network and deals with any issues quickly.

The Outlook for Dark Fiber

More and more businesses and organizations are seeking out high performing, reliable internet. As such, the outlook for the future of dark fiber is promising. Telecommunication providers are also paying more attention to dark fiber and its capabilities as they are constantly looking to expand their bandwidth capacity. 

VIAVI Solutions is one of the leaders in fiber testing, offering the most complete range of fiber test solutions. VIAVI’s umbrella of interactive tools, testing capabilities, and solutions will help you prepare for anything the future holds.