DARK FIBER MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2025-2032)

Dark Fiber Market Analysis & Forecast: 2025-2032

The Dark Fiber Market is estimated to be valued at USD 8.06 Bn in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 18.28 Bn by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4% from 2025 to 2032.

Key Takeaways

• By Fiber Type, Multimode fiber is estimated to hold the highest share of 69.1% in 2025 in the dark fiber market owing to its ability to meet growing bandwidth requirements at relatively lower costs.
• By Network Type, the long-haul segment is estimated to hold the largest share of 59.3% in 2025 in the market as operators extensively leverage terrestrial and submarine cables to interconnect vast geographic areas.
• By End-use Industry, the telecom segment is estimated to capture the largest share of 45.1% in 2025 in the market owing to rapid digitization initiatives of leading operators.
• By Region, North America is projected to dominate the global dark fiber market, accounting for the largest share of 34.7% in 2025. The region benefits from a highly developed telecommunications infrastructure, with extensive Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connectivity and widespread metro and long-haul fiber networks.

Market Overview

The Dark Fiber market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. The rising demand for internet connectivity and data transfer across various industries due to digital transformation initiatives is driving the demand for dark fiber networks. Additionally, the growing demand for carrier-neutral interconnection and bandwidth services among businesses is propelling the market growth.

Current Events and Its Impact on the Dark Fiber Market

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Technological Advancements in the Dark Fiber Market

The dark fiber market is rapidly advancing with innovations enhancing performance, flexibility, and scalability. Ultra-low loss and bend-insensitive fibers reduce costs and simplify deployment, while multi-core and hollow-core fibers boost capacity and cut latency by up to 30%. Intelligent monitoring systems using AI and distributed acoustic sensing improve reliability and security. DWDM upgrades enable dynamic bandwidth allocation, and integration with edge computing and SDN enhances low-latency connectivity and programmability. Emerging readiness for quantum communication further positions dark fiber as a critical backbone for 5G, IoT, and future digital infrastructure.

In July 2025, Zayo announced major upgrades to its AI-ready infrastructure, including the launch of three new long-haul dark fiber routes and full 400G enablement of its North American core network. These new routes are specifically designed to meet the rising demand driven by AI.

Segmental Insights

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Dark Fiber Market Insights, by Fiber Type: Multimode Fiber Drives Adoption with Growing Bandwidth Needs

By Fiber Type, Multimode fiber is estimated to hold the highest share of 69.1% in 2025 in the dark fiber market owing to its ability to meet growing bandwidth requirements at relatively lower costs. As data consumption across organizations and industries continues to surge exponentially, the demand for higher bandwidth connectivity is also rising. However, deploying single mode fiber networks to increase bandwidth comes with significant infrastructure upgrade expenditures. Multimode fiber provides a cost-effective alternative to support the transmission needs of most applications today. It enables faster rollout of networks to new sites without substantial upfront capital investments.

Multimode fiber's tolerance for Signal Degradation allows easier and lower-priced deployment for enterprises and telecom operators. Multiple light signals can propagate through the same fiber strand simultaneously via different angles. This helps accommodate bandwidth spikes and congestion periods. Compared to single mode fiber, signal amplification is easier with multimode fiber over short and medium haul distances. Components and equipment are also more standardized and widely available due to broader use, reducing deployment timelines.

For instance, May 2025, Corning Incorporated showcased its latest fiber broadband solutions at Fiber Connect 2025 in Nashville, introducing innovations like Evolv® Pushlok®, FlexNAP™, and RPX® ribbon cables to accelerate deployments, reduce costs, and strengthen dark fiber network expansion.

Dark Fiber Market Insights, by Network Type: Catering to Vast Geographies, Long-haul Networks See Strong Demand

By Network Type, the long-haul segment is estimated to hold the largest share of 59.3% in 2025 in the market as operators extensively leverage terrestrial and submarine cables to interconnect vast geographic areas. Long-haul networks play a critical role in bridging domestic and global telecom infrastructures to facilitate seamless data flows. Growing cross-border data transfers between enterprises and rise of hyperscale cloud/content providers have accelerated the need for high-capacity inter-regional connectivity.

Long-haul networks efficiently transport data traffic across thousands of kilometers while minimizing transmission impairments over extended spans. Advanced digital signal processing and optical amplification technologies help overcome loss and dispersion challenges over such long routes. This allows seamless scalability to cater to future traffic volumes.

For instance, June 2024, Zayo unveiled plans for a new long-haul dark fiber route connecting Denver and Salt Lake City, enhancing inter-regional connectivity for cloud and AI workloads.

Dark Fiber Market Insights, by End-use Industry: Telecom Segment Acquires the largest share

By End-use Industry, the telecom segment is estimated to capture the largest share of 45.1% in 2025 in the market owing to rapid digitization initiatives of leading operators. Telecom providers are extensively investing in high-bandwidth network infrastructures to accommodate surge in data traffic from 5G, IoT, MVNOs and OTTs. Dark fiber plays a strategic role in boosting network capacities of telcos in support of their long-term digital roadmaps.

Telecoms are augmenting metro capacities to support small cell densification for 5G services. They are also upgrading regional and long-haul backbone routes to interconnect expansive 5G radio access networks seamlessly. This allows delivering consistent high-speed connectivity demanded by emerging applications. Dark fiber networks help future-proof existing infrastructure for upcoming technologies like 5G standalone networks, AI/ML, and edge computing.

For instance, September 2024, Verizon announced new dark fiber leases to hyperscale data centers in Northern Virginia, reinforcing telecom operators’ role as key providers for cloud and AI-driven connectivity.

Regional Insights

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Dark Fiber Market Regional Insights

North America Dark Fiber Market Analysis & Trends

North America is projected to dominate the global dark fiber market, accounting for the largest share of 34.7% in 2025. The region benefits from a highly developed telecommunications infrastructure, with extensive Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connectivity and widespread metro and long-haul fiber networks. Leading telecom carriers such as Verizon and AT&T have invested significantly in deploying fiber and lease surplus capacity to enterprise and wholesale customers.

Native dark fiber providers, including Zayo and Level 3, maintain strong metro networks across key commercial hubs, while global colocation leaders such as Equinix and Digital Realty continue to procure dark fiber to expand their data center footprints. The rising demand from cloud service providers and content delivery networks (CDNs) for secure, scalable, and high-bandwidth connectivity is also a major driver for growth in this region.

For instance, July 2025, AT&T announced it would use billions in tax savings to accelerate fiber expansion across the U.S., targeting over 60 million locations by 2030.

Asia Pacific Dark Fiber Market Analysis & Trends

The Asia Pacific region is expected to emerge as the fastest-growing market during the forecast period. Rapid digitization, increasing internet penetration, and accelerating demand for high-speed connectivity are fueling dark fiber adoption. Governments across the region, including China, South Korea, and India, are supporting fiber infrastructure development through favorable policies, incentives, and regulatory reforms.

China has seen large-scale nationwide fiber expansion along railway corridors, while India is witnessing pan-India rollouts by telecom majors like Reliance Jio and Airtel. For instance, 2024, Reliance Jio (India) accelerated pan-India fiber rollouts to support 5G backhaul and cloud connectivity. Southeast Asia is also experiencing strong growth, driven by demand from data centers, cloud exchanges, and internet hubs. Ongoing investments in undersea cable systems and terrestrial backbone networks are expected to further strengthen Asia Pacific’s role as a key connectivity hub.

Dark Fiber Market Country-Wise Outlook

United States Dark Fiber Market Trends

The U.S. remains the largest contributor to the North American dark fiber market. Major telecom operators such as Verizon, AT&T, and CenturyLink have built extensive metro and long-haul networks, leasing dark fiber capacity to enterprises, carriers, and hyperscale cloud providers. The U.S. also hosts the world’s largest cluster of data centers, where colocation giants like Equinix and Digital Realty are driving adoption of dedicated dark fiber routes. The rapid expansion of AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud continues to push demand for secure, low-latency connectivity solutions.

In April 2025, C3ntro Telecom announced the launch of its most ambitious project yet — the Tikva Project. This 2,500 km fiber optic network connects Phoenix, Arizona, to Querétaro, Mexico, offering a fully underground, low-latency, and redundant cross-border route. Built with AI-ready fiber and multi-duct capacity, Tikva sets a new standard in high-performance, cross-border connectivity.  Such developments are accelerating the dark fiber market demand.

Canada Dark Fiber Market Trends

Canada is witnessing strong growth in dark fiber adoption, supported by nationwide broadband initiatives and increasing enterprise demand. Telecom operators such as Bell Canada, Rogers, and Telus are expanding their fiber footprints, while Canadian data center operators are securing dark fiber to ensure redundant cross-border connectivity to U.S. hubs. Government-backed rural broadband programs and rising digital transformation across industries such as healthcare, finance, and education are further contributing to market expansion. For instance, 2024, Phoenix saw a project adding 300+ miles of dark fiber routes and 15 fiber rings to support rapid data center growth.

China Dark Fiber Market Trends

China leads the Asia Pacific dark fiber market, driven by large-scale infrastructure investments by state-owned enterprises such as China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom. Nationwide backbone deployments and fiber expansion along high-speed railways have significantly strengthened connectivity. Local dark fiber providers like Dr. Peng Telecom are also enabling open-access networks for enterprises and cloud providers. China’s “New Infrastructure” policy, emphasizing 5G, data centers, and digital connectivity, is further accelerating dark fiber market revenue. For instance, in 2024, China Mobile and China Telecom continued nationwide dark fiber builds along railway corridors and backbone routes.

Market Report Scope 

Market Dynamics

Increasing Demand for High Bandwidth Connectivity

With increasing smartphone and internet usage, bandwidth demand has been growing exponentially in recent years. People no longer just access basic internet on their phones and computers - they now stream high-definition videos, make video calls, engage in online gaming, and more. This boom in bandwidth-hungry applications has drawn attention to technologies that can help expand network capacity to meet future needs. As a result, many enterprises and data center owners are considering the installation of dark fiber networks within and between their facilities to ensure high-speed connectivity now and in the future. Dark fiber offers literally unlimited bandwidth potential since fiber cables are not put to active use until laser transmitters and receivers are installed on either side. The upfront cost of laying dark fiber is also offset by its future-proofing ability and long lifespan of over 25 years.

For instance, Colt Technology Services, a telecommunications company, offers a dark fiber network to around 1,000 data centers in Europe and Asia. The company’s dark fiber provides businesses with maximum levels of flexibility and control to support virtually unlimited bandwidth.

Analyst Viewpoint

• The dark fiber market has evolved into a critical layer of digital infrastructure, no longer driven merely by bandwidth growth but by the need for control, performance, and long-term strategic positioning. In today’s environment — shaped by hyperscaler dominance, AI workloads, and data sovereignty concerns — dark fiber is emerging as a defining asset class.
• In recent years, large cloud providers and infrastructure investors have increasingly moved away from leasing fiber capacity and toward owning or co-investing in dark fiber assets. This transition is not purely economic — it reflects a need for direct control over performance, latency, and future scalability.
• For example, Google’s Equiano and Meta’s 2Africa subsea systems are not traditional telecom builds — they are strategic assets enabling full autonomy over routing and upgrades. Similarly, Microsoft has invested in exclusive terrestrial fiber routes across Latin America to minimize dependency on third-party carriers.
• This trend highlights a core reality: owning dark fiber enables long-term infrastructure independence, something that cannot be achieved through lit services or shared capacity.

Dark Fiber Industry News

• In June 2025, LSC completed its Kansas City dark fiber metro route (35 miles) connecting four data centers, with additional network builds in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tulsa scheduled for completion in 2025.
• In January 2025, Zayo announced construction of 5,000+ new long-haul fiber route miles across the U.S. to meet AI-driven bandwidth demand forecasted to grow 2.6x by 2030.
• In January 2024, Bandwidth IG announced the company’s latest dark fiber network expansion in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company will deliver over 310 route miles and more than 2 million fiber miles to one of the largest data center markets in the world.

Market Segmentation

• Fiber Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2020 - 2032)
• Single Mode Fiber
• Multimode Fiber
• Step-index Multimode Fiber
• Graded-index Multimode Fiber 
• Network Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2020 - 2032)
• Metro
• Long-haul
• End-use Industry Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2020 - 2032)
• Telecom
• Oil & Gas
• Military & Aerospace
• BFSI
• Medical
• Railway
• Others
• Regional Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2020 - 2032)
• North America
• U.S.
• Canada
• Latin America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America
• Europe
• Germany
• U.K.
• Spain
• France
• Italy
• Russia
• Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• ASEAN
• Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
• GCC Countries
• Israel
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Key Players Insights
• AT&T Inc.
• Colt Technology Services Group Limited
• Comcast
• Consolidated Communications
• GTT Communications, Inc
• Lumen Technologies, Inc.
• Verizon Communications, Inc.
• Windstream Intellectual Property Services, LLC
• Zayo Group, LLC
• Microscan
• Sorrento Networks
• NexGen Networks Corporation
• UFINET
• Vikram Group
• DEPL
• UNITE PRIVATE NETWORKS
• Sterlite Power
• Crown Castle
• FirstLight
• Cologix 

Sources

Primary Research Interviews

• Telecommunications Infrastructure Providers
• Dark Fiber Network Operators
• Enterprise IT Decision Makers
• Data Center Management Executives
• Others

Databases

• TeleGeography Global Internet Geography Database
• PriMetrica Telecom Infrastructure Database
• GlobalData Telecommunications Database
• Ovum TMT Intelligence Platform
• Others

Magazines

• Fiber Optic Magazine
• Communications Technology Magazine
• Network World Magazine
• Data Center Knowledge Magazine
• Light Reading Magazine
• Others

Journals

• Journal of Optical Communications and Networking
• IEEE Communications Magazine
• Optical Fiber Technology Journal
• Others

Newspapers

• Financial Times
• The Wall Street Journal
• Telecom Paper
• FierceTelecom
• Communications Today
• Others

Associations

• Fiber Broadband Association (FBA)
• Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE)
• Broadband Now Association
• Others

Public Domain Sources

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Reports
• European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Publications
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Statistics
• OECD Broadband Statistics
• National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Reports
• Others

Proprietary Elements

• CMI Data Analytics Tool
• Proprietary CMI Existing Repository of information for last 8 years