The technology ecosystem is currently experiencing a golden age. With the rise of artificial intelligence and the continuous growth in connectivity across both business and personal environments, the coming years promise an unprecedented era of digital growth and innovation. By 2030, global data generation is expected to reach 181 ZB —zettabytes, where 1 ZB equals one billion terabytes— doubling the amount recorded in 2022, according to data from Statista.

Companies that require the management of large volumes of data with low latency should unquestionably look towards fiber optics. However, given the increasing demand, alongside the rising data generation and consumption, a more robust solution is required. The answer may lie in Dark Fiber.

What is dark fiber?

Despite its striking and somewhat mysterious name, Dark Fiber has nothing ominous about it, nor is it related to any fantastical characters from Tolkien’s works. The term “dark” simply refers to fiber optics that are not “lit,” meaning they are not currently transmitting data in the form of light pulses. In simpler terms, Dark Fiber refers to fiber that is installed and in place, but not actively in use.

How is it possible that, with today’s advanced technology, there is unused fiber optic infrastructure? It’s not as surprising as it may seem. When fiber connectivity took off in the 1990s, companies responsible for installing fiber opted for an ambitious approach, anticipating massive future demand—there was even some paranoia surrounding the “Y2K effect.” As a result, vast amounts of fiber were laid down. While demand has steadily grown since then, it has not reached the originally anticipated levels. This is why portions of the infrastructure remain unused.

The dark fiber market

According to a report by Brainy Insights, the global Dark Fiber market was valued at $5.95 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.15% from 2022 to 2030, reaching $13.85 billion by 2030. The main segments within this market include long-term leases —with contracts ranging from three to thirty years— and segmentation based on fiber type —single-mode or multi-mode— or application sector. In Spain alone, there are two million kilometers of Dark Fiber in total.

Why should companies consider using dark fiber?

Any company, network operator, or large corporation from any sector can choose to use already lit fiber for data transmission. However, acquiring a portion of Dark Fiber for their own use brings several advantages:

• Long-term cost reduction. While the initial investment may be substantial, over the long term, companies can avoid recurring fees, overage charges for increased bandwidth, or other service restrictions.

• Privacy and security. Since the fiber infrastructure is not shared with other users, data traffic is significantly more secure, allowing for closer monitoring. Although cyberattacks cannot be entirely eliminated, the likelihood of such incidents is drastically reduced.

• Control. For the same reasons outlined above, full control over the infrastructure is guaranteed. Dark Fiber can be treated as an internal company asset, enabling fully customized configurations, both in terms of performance and bandwidth.

• Unlimited and scalable capacity. Fiber optics offer virtually unlimited capacity for data transmission. The growth of a company, its international expansion, or the increase in bandwidth demand will not pose a problem when the organization controls its own infrastructure through Dark Fiber.

In the coming years—between 2025 and 2030—it is highly likely that we will see the Dark Fiber market open up as a compelling opportunity for digital technology investment and development. This opportunity will appeal to both publicly traded companies and those that, although not currently of that scale, anticipate significant growth in the near future through digital transformation.