Dark Fibre Network Speed & Bandwith | 2024 Guide | Neos Networds
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Dark Fibre network speed: how fast is Dark Fibre?

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How fast is Dark Fibre?

Dark Fibre, as the name suggests, is unlit fibre optic which can be leased or purchased and to which a business then adds their own equipment to light in order to transmit data.

What is the bandwidth of dark fibre?

Dark Fibre bandwidth is virtually infinite and is simply down to what technology the business chooses to use. Due to the high costs associated with Dark Fibre it would make the most sense to get the most capacity you can from the fibre.

How fast is Dark Fibre network speed?

This is where Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) comes in. WDM has been a breakthrough in optical technology which enabled the light used to be split out across the spectrum in to a range of differing wavelengths, all at a different frequency, along which data can be transmitted simultaneously – thus vastly increasing the capacity along that fibre strand. For the highest capacities, Dense WDM (DWDM) can enable 80 channels across a single fibre with capacity of 100Gbps per wavelength depending on the distance of the fibre, and thus how far the light must travel.

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Dark Fibre FAQs

Take a look at our FAQs for Dark Fibre

  • What is Dark Fibre?

     

    A Dark Fibre network is essentially unused fibre optic cables with no service or traffic running on it – an unlit Point-to-Point connection. Unlike Ethernet or lit-fibre services, if you purchase the Dark Fibre, you will also need to deploy and manage the equipment needed to light it. You can find out more about what is Dark Fibre here and how it enables businesses to take control of their IT estate.

  • Who owns Dark Fibre?

     

    Businesses use Dark Fibre to create their own private optical network rather than leasing fixed bandwidth enabling businesses to control their own network. You’ll have heard of Dark Fibre, but just who owns Dark Fibre and is it something you should invest in?

  • How fast is Dark Fibre?

     

    Due to the high costs associated with Dark Fibre it would make the most sense to get the most capacity you can from the fibre. The question most people ask is how fast is Dark Fibre? Dark Fibre is virtually infinite and is simply down to what technology the business chooses to use.

  • Dark Fibre vs Lit Fibre

     

    There is a lot of conversation about fibre – but what exactly is the difference between Dark Fibre and Lit Fibre, and which one is right for you? There are several pros and cons for choosing either Dark Fibre vs Lit Fibre.

  • Dark Fibre vs MPLS

     

    To start with, what is MPLS? Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a type of connectivity that is well known for ensuring reliable connectivity for real-time applications and Quality of Service (QoS) to keep critical business information flowing. High-availability MPLS offers support for services such as VoIP, virtual desktops, video conferencing and cloud applications and guarantees no loss of quality.

    MPLS can offer robust and reliable connectivity, yet Dark Fibre offers a level of network future-proofing that other means of connectivity can’t. We discuss the pros and cons of both Dark Fibre vs MPLS here.

  • Dark Fibre vs Ethernet

     

    Dark Fibre is as it sounds and refers to fibre that is unlit and unmanaged but owned or leased wholly by the business purchasing it whereas, Ethernet for business is where the bandwidth required is leased from a connectivity provider who manages the network. Here we address the differences between Dark Fibre vs Ethernet.

  • Dark Fibre vs Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)

     

    Dark Fibre is, simply, an unlit glass fibre strand with no equipment attached to it. This gives businesses the option of using any protocol of their choice and their own equipment, whilst safe in the knowledge that only their traffic travels across that fibre strand. In this section we discuss Dark Fibre vs DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) and the benefits each can bring to your business.