Dark Fibre Convention - London 2009


I was in London last week speaking at a unique conference - the Dark Fibre Convention. (yes they spell it fibre). The fact that they have such a gathering and it is the 2nd annual says a lot. A specific event around dark fiber would never happen in the US right now as no one really understands the issues/demand around the need for "new" dark fiber as it relates to wireless backhaul, Ethernet for the enterprise, Internet growth, etc. Many people in the US continue to believe that there is enough fiber already out there and no new routes ever need to be built. Tell that to the wireless carriers sitting on towers without fiber and the rural carriers with only limited leased lit services to choose from.

In London I met with numerous companies from around the world already operating neutral dark fiber networks very similar to what we are setting out to do with Allied Fiber. They all presented several "success stories" of their models and progress. It is quite amazing to see the difference between the Europe/UK/Africa and the investment being made there in new dark fiber builds and the deep lack of understanding of the same here in the US.

A few standouts that presented were

Dark Fibre Africa - located in South Africa

From their homepage:

Dark Fibre Africa (DFA), which started rolling out its network in metropolitan areas in October 2007, specialises in the financing, building and installation of carrier neutral, open access, ducting infrastructure. This infrastructure is commissioned by licensed telecom and Internet operators, which provide high-speed voice, data and video services to customers.

The underlying business principle is that of an Independent "Open Access" Infrastructure. DFA will always be Competition-Neutral providing a Ducting Infrastructure that is "Open" to all licensed players, on equal terms.

Also, Metroweb - located in Milan, Italy

Metroweb was one of the fiber optic network pioneers, and one of the first to recognize the strategic importance that the diffusion of broadband Internet services would have on the future of Europe and the rest of the world. This is one of the reasons why Metroweb is currently able to provide such a widespread network that ranges from the large metropolitan area of Milan and branches out towards the most important cities in Northern Italy. A network that currently handles a cable length of over 5,100 kilometers, something which is difficult to find in any other European capital city.

It is thanks to our foresight that Italian broadband providers are now able to
create their own infrastructures and maintain them efficiently without having
to invest large amounts of capital in their ventures. Metroweb leases its fiber optic network to all the telecommunication providers who aim to supply innovative services that require fast, reliable and extremely high-quality connections. The conditions are highly advantageous and can be adapted to suit the specific requirements of:

  • internet providers 
  • landline phone companies 
  • mobile phone companies 
  • digital and multimedia content
  • distributors 
  • local authorities
Well now how about that! Dark Fiber leasing businesses are alive and doing well all around the world! There are many places, applications, needs and uses for dark fiber and given the expansion of all of the above it does not seem logical to think that there would not also be a parallel need to expand dark fiber that is available for lease as well. Clearly for the participants at the Dark Fibre Convention there is no doubt about the need for new dark fibre!
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