What Is Dark Fiber? Winning the Battle of the Bandwidth

WHAT IS DARK FIBER? Winning the Battle of the Bandwidth Dark fiber has been a popular topic lately as companies look for platforms to improve internet bandwidth and data connectivity. But all the talk about dark fiber has left many people wondering, "What exactly is dark fiber?" Let's take a look. THE PROBLEM: Race for Bandwidth The Connectivity Highway Nothing slows down your day like a slowly performing network. A major factor behind network issues is the number of devices competing for bandwidth. • 1.1 zettabyte: Global IP traffic in 2016-that's 1021 bytes! • 3:1 - Ratio of networked devices to people by 2018 • 18%: Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for business IP traffic from 2013 to 2018 • Think of all these networked devices as cars on a road • An open road allows a car to travel at high speeds • But, too many cars on the road at once causes a traffic jam The cars creep along at slow speeds • What can you do? Add more lanes to the road (but even that's not enough to handle rush-hour traffic) Choose an alternative route that avoids congested roads What are some common activities that can slow your network? Constant Streaming Internet data stream videos High number of networked devices Transferring or downloading large files The true solution lies in choosing an alternative route. Dark fiber provides that route. THE SOLUTION WHAT IS DARK Vs. LIT FIBER DARK FIBER? Dark fiber is a network of fiber-optic cables that can carry high amounts of data at high speeds over hundreds of miles. • Dark fiber actually refers to cables that are installed and ready for use • Hundreds of thousands of miles of dark fiber have been laid across the U.S. • "Lighting up" dark fiber requires the installation and use of network equipment. • Providers that offer "Lit" fiber have already done the work of activating the cables • Dark fiber has unlimited expansion capability • Lit fiber could have a limit to its available bandwidth capacity Fiber-Optic Cables • Optical fibers are thin glass cables about as wide as a human hair • Light beams travel through the core of the fiber • The light transmits and receives information without electronic interference (EMI) • Fibers can carry more bandwidth over longer distances Hundreds or thousands of fibers are bundled in optical cables, which form the foundation of dark fiber networks. STAYING AHEAD OF THE PACK A to B or A to Z A company needs to connect four locations on a single network. Burbank Office Downtown Los Angeles Data center Santa Monica Office San Diego Corporate headquarters THE PROBLEM: San Diego is 120 miles from Los Angeles. Fiber optics can connect not only San Diego and LA, but the Santa Monica and Burbank offices as well. • All four sites connected on a private, high-speed network • Dark fiber provides the backbone of the network • Other platforms, including Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and ethernet can be built on top of this backbone THE SOLUTION UNLIMITED GROWTH Fiber optic networks are the perfect platform for fast-growing companies looking to keep up with the speed of business. • Low cost regardless of bandwidth usage • Lowest latency = fastest response times • Network capacity grows along with business • Flexible routing to meet network requirements Optimal security ensures assets are protected MEET THE DEMANDS OF YOUR BUSINESS TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE WITH A FULLY-OPTIMIZED FIBER OPTIC NETWORK. IN A RACE FOR CONNECTIVITY, YOU'LL BE DRIVING A LAMBORGHINI (BUT MORE AFFORDABLE) WHILE THE COMPETITION IS DRIVINGA JALOPY. SOURCES http://wilcon.com/discover-our-network/ http://www.packetworks.net/blog/low-bandwidth-means-slow-network-performance https://www.sandvine.com/downloads/general/global-internet-phenomena/2014/1h-2014-global-internet-phenomena-report.pdf http://www.netindex.com/download/allcountries/ http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/ip-ngn-ip-next-generation-network/white_paper_c11-481360.html http://news.cnet.com/2100-1034 3-5537392.html WILCON