Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Dark-Fiber Network Services
Sourcing Guide & Market Intelligence
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Dark-Fiber Network Services Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Dark fiber (or fibre) refers to optical fibers that are in place but not currently in use. Wired telecom carriers, educational institutions, and financial institutions can lease these unused optical fibers to send data and information. Buyers can use dark-fiber network services to create their own private communication networks without depending on traditional telecommunication providers. Vendors are telecommunication companies that control their own dark-fiber network infrastructures. Large vendors invest in their own networks, while small vendors purchase excess dark fiber from larger carriers.
This Report Includes:
- Managed Dark Fiber Services
- Dark Fiber Leases
Not in this Report:
- Dark-Fiber Retailers or Wholesalers
- Lessors of Public Lit Networks
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Global Dark-Fiber Network Services Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Dark-Fiber Network Services market.
Warning Trends
China bans exports of rare minerals to the United States
- On December 4, China announced a ban on all exports of gallium, germanium, graphite, and antimony to the United States, escalating existing trade restrictions on these materials.
- China is the leading global producer of each of these metals, producing 98.3%, 67.9%, 62.0%, and 48.2%, respectively, of the world’s gallium, germanium, graphite, and antimony supplies, respectively.
- The United States can still access these resources from other trade partners who make up most of the remaining global supply of the impacted commodities, such as Canada, Japan, and Brazil.
- However, the loss of supply from China, the leading producer of these materials, will increase prices and supply chain risk in a range of markets that rely on the affected metals, such as the semiconductor, batteries, and solar cell markets.
- China’s export ban on these materials is in retaliation to expanded US export bans on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment and technologies to China announced two days prior. This ongoing trade dispute adds further uncertainty to technology markets, which are often reliant on components and materials exported from China.
Global Dark-Fiber Network Services Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 Europe | 565 |
| #2 United States | 448 |
| #3 South America | 285 |
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Geography Drilldown - US
Average Cost of Dark-Fiber Network Services
United States
2026 Market Pricing$30.00 to $X,XXX.XX
per month per strand per mileAverage Price
Prices in the Dark-Fiber Network Services market range from $30.00 to $X,XXX.XX, depending on Location, Strand Length, Routing Complexity and Buyer Type. For example, lower prices are associated with Rural or suburban areas ($30.00 to $275 per month per strand per mile), whereas higher prices are associated with Metropolitan areas ($300 to $3,000 per month per strand per mile).
Need the scoop on international price trends?
Between our Europe and Canada collections, we provide price data for 350 markets so you can instantly compare prices across borders. Or, use our custom research services for intel on prices in any region across the globe.
Dark-Fiber Network Services Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Dark-Fiber Network Services market, prices in the US have grown 2.2% from 2022 to 2025. Subscribers can access price trend forecasts, price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data. Learn more
United States (2022-2025)
United States (2025-2028)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Wondering where prices are heading?
Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Dark-Fiber Network Services
Total cost of ownership is Medium in the Dark-Fiber Network Services market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs. For example, unforeseen costs in the form of Hidden Fees may raise the total cost of ownership unexpectedly.
Negotiated Before
Other Fees
Billed During
Maintenance
Hardware
Unforeseen
Hidden Fees
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to -1.4 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Recent Developments. It is most negatively impacted by Recent Price Volatility. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as Medium, which has a negative impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Transmission Line Construction Firms
- Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturers
- Telecommunication Networking Equipment Manufacturers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Construction & Mining Equipment Wholesalers
- Glass Product Manufacturers
- Semiconductor & Circuit Manufacturers
Biggest Dark-Fiber Network Services Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Dark-Fiber Network Services vendors by revenue in the US are Fiberlight, Llc, Resurgence Infrastructure Group and Uniti Group Inc. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Global | MONROE | >10,000 | 25+ | ||||
| Crown Castle International Corp | National | HOUSTON, TX | 1,001-10,000 | 25+ | ||||
| Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. | Global | BOULDER, CO | 1,001-10,000 | 25+ | ||||
| Verizon Communications Inc. | Global | NEW YORK, NY | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| At&T Inc. | Global | DALLAS, TX | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Charter Communications, Inc. | National | STAMFORD, CT | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Equinix, Inc. | Global | REDWOOD CITY, CA | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Frontier Communications Corporation | National | DALLAS, CT | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Uniti Group Inc. | National | Little Rock, AR | 501-1,000 | < 5 | ||||
Looking for a list of suppliers by country?
Subscribers can access vendor information on Canadian and European suppliers, too. We also offer custom research services to help with vendor sourcing anywhere in the world.
Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Dark-Fiber Network Services market is 13.8% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Overhead. The cost trend for this component is falling, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
The United States is a net importer of network equipment, which indicates a high level of competition in the market from foreign vendors. However, the increased reliance on overseas vendors heightens the risk of supply chain disruptions.
The supply chain for dark-fiber network services poses a moderate risk to dark-fiber network suppliers. The risk associated with IT equipment and telecommunication networking equipment increases the likelihood of supply chain delays and service disruptions for buyers.
The dark-fiber network services market is characterized by a very high level of market share concentration as the top four firms account for more than 60.0% of total market revenue. This factor detracts from buyer power by making it more difficult for buyers to negotiate lower prices from vendors with strong brand-name recognition.
The financial risk among vendors of dark-fiber network services is low due to steady demand and reduced competitive pressures. As a result, buyers face little risk of service discontinuity from their chosen vendor suddenly exiting the market.
Supplier Information
Crown Castle International Corp
Crown Castle Inc. is a real estate investment trust that owns, operates, and leases shared communications infrastructure throughout the US. Its properties comprise towers and other structures, including rooftops, and fiber, which support small cell networks and fiber solutions. It provides access, including... Subscribe to learn more
Lumen Technologies, Inc.
Lumen Technologies, Inc. is a technology and communications company serving domestic and global business customers. It operates under three brands: Lumen, its flagship brand for the enterprise and wholesale markets, Quantum Fiber, which provides fiber-based services to residential and small business customers;... Subscribe to learn more
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc.
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. is a public company operating globally in the information sector. The company's offerings include data center services, managed vpn services and dark-fiber network services. Founded in 2007, the company is currently headquartered in BOULDER, Colorado, United States of America with... Subscribe to learn more
At&T Inc.
At&T Inc. is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing, information and professional, scientific and technical services sectors. The company's offerings include electronic logging devices, smartphones, office phones, air cards, mobile enterprise application platforms. Founded in 1885, the company... Subscribe to learn more
Charter Communications, Inc.
Charter Communications, Inc. /MO/ is a broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving customers across the US under the Spectrum brand. It offers a full range of subscription-based connectivity services, including fixed and mobile Internet, video, and voice services to residential and business Subscribe to learn more
Duquesne Light Holdings Inc.
Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. is a private company operating regionally in the information sector. The company's offerings include dark-fiber network services. Founded in 1880, the company is currently headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America with an estimated 5500 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Equinix, Inc.
Equinix, Inc. is a public company operating globally in the information sector. The company's offerings include data center services. Founded in 1998, the company is currently headquartered in REDWOOD CITY, California, United States of America with an estimated 12097 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Fiberlight, Llc
Fiberlight, Llc is a private company operating nationally in the information sector. The company's offerings include dark-fiber network services. Founded in 2005, the company is currently headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, United States of America with an estimated 175 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Frontier Communications Corporation
Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. is a communications and technology provider. Its communications and technology services include broadband, ethernet, traditional circuit-based services, software-defined wide-area network (SDWAN), managed Wi-Fi and cloud IT solutions, voice, and Unified Communications-as-a-Service... Subscribe to learn more
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Procurement Management KPIs for the Dark-Fiber Network Services Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Average Resolution Time and Customer Satisfaction (CSAT). Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Fiber Network Availability and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Resolution Time |
|
Total resolution time Number of resolved tickets |
The average resolution time represents the average amount of time it takes to resolve a support ticket. The average resolution time can be used to determine a company’s support responsiveness. |
| Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) |
|
Number of positive customer responses Number of customer responses |
Customer satisfaction represents customers’ overall satisfaction with a company. Customer satisfaction can be used to evaluate a company’s reputation. |
|
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Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Price
What is the reasoning behind the pricing model you plan to apply to my service? Would you consider applying any other pricing models to my service?
Are there any additional charges I should be aware of outside the cost of the service?
Security
What measures do you take to secure your clients’ fiber optic networks?
Can you describe for me the last time the security of your network was compromised? What measures did you take to resolve this breach?
Service & Maintenance
What are your hours of operation?
Do you offer an emergency line to call in case we have network problems outside your normal hours of operation? If so, do you charge an additional fee for your emergency services?
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Dark-Fiber Network Services RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should give an overview of their organization.
Buyers should give a brief description of the types of services required.
Statement Of Need
Buyers should delineate the breadth of services required.
Buyers should describe the desired qualifications of the dark-fiber network service provider (e.g., number of years of experience and service quality).
Project Budget
Buyers should include the budget for the contract.
Buyers should suggest the best method of billing.
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We display average pricing information, trends and market data.
Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
- Global market updates
- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
