According to the latest market research study published by P&S Intelligence, the U.S. dark fiber network market, valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2024, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2025 to 2032, reaching USD 2.4 billion. Recent research and development (R&D) efforts have highlighted dark fiber as a critical infrastructure solution for enterprises and telecom providers facing rising demand for high-speed, low-latency network services.
Dark fiber, the unused optical fiber infrastructure
installed during the internet boom, is being increasingly leveraged by network
operators to accommodate expanding data traffic, including cloud computing, AI,
IoT, and 5G applications.
Key Highlights
Metric |
Value / Insight |
Market Size (2024) |
USD 1.1 Billion |
Projected Market Size (2032) |
USD 2.4 Billion |
CAGR (2025–2032) |
10.6% |
Primary Growth Drivers |
5G expansion, cloud computing, AI & IoT adoption |
Leading Region |
Western U.S. (40% market share) |
Dominant Fiber Type |
Multi-mode (70% market share, CAGR 11.1%) |
Dominant Material |
Glass (65% market share) |
Dominant Network Type |
Long-Haul (70% market share, CAGR 11.5%) |
Dominant Technology |
Mobile Backhaul (largest share), DWDM (fastest-growing) |
Largest Application Segment |
IT & Telecom (35% market share) |
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R&D Highlights:
- Multi-Mode
Fibers: Proven cost-effective for short-to-medium distance
transmission with high data rates, supporting modern enterprise and data
center requirements.
- Glass
Material Fibers: Superior performance in long-haul, 5G backhaul, and
high-bandwidth environments.
- Network
Expansion: Long-haul and DWDM technologies are essential for
accommodating cloud, AI, and mobile data traffic.
- Regional
Advantage: The Western U.S. benefits from existing fiber
infrastructure, reducing deployment costs and accelerating adoption.
Strategic Importance of Dark Fiber for 5G and Enterprise
Networks
With millions of Americans already connected to 5G networks, dark fiber
provides scalable, secure, and high-capacity infrastructure essential for
backhaul and fronthaul. Enterprises are increasingly leveraging R&D
insights to implement private networks capable of handling exponential growth
in data traffic, low-latency applications, and real-time analytics.
Leading Companies Driving Market Growth:
Company Name |
AT&T Inc. |
Verizon Communications, Inc. |
Comcast Corporation |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. |
Crown Castle International Corp. |
Zayo Group, LLC |
Google Fiber |
Fatbeam Fiber |
Recent Developments:
- April
2024: Uniti Group expanded its lit and dark fiber network in
Huntsville, AL, to 190 miles.
- June
2022: NEC Corporation partnered with Neutral Networks to energize the
NEXT optical fiber network between the U.S. and Mexico, utilizing
Infinera’s ICE6 800G coherent technology.
“With the surge in 5G, cloud adoption, and enterprise
digitalization, dark fiber is no longer an idle resource—it’s a critical
enabler of high-speed connectivity and network resilience,” said [Spokesperson
Name], [Title] of [Company]. “Our latest R&D findings confirm that
multi-mode, glass, and long-haul fiber technologies are at the forefront of
this transformation.”