FiberLocator™ Dark Fiber 101 Tutorial

Shedding New Light on Dark Fiber

Dark Fiber 101 Tutorial provider. The service provider then troubleshoots the problem,
Knowledge is Power makes the appropriate fix to the service, and credits the
customer for the downtime.
Ciena and NEF aim to empower you with detailed information
enabling you to implement the best connectivity solution for Dark fiber works differently. When a customer leases dark fiber,
your business. they are leasing the infrastructure on which service is delivered.
The customer is responsible for all the electronics required to
Ciena’s best-of-breed optical networking equipment combined deliver service between locations. The customer has leased the
with the optimal network architecture can bring you tremendous fiber over which the light is transmitted that creates service.
ROI and long-term savings on your telecommunications The fiber itself provides no service to the customer but allows
investment. Ciena has partnered with NEF to offer the customer to build a network with his own equipment and
FiberLocator, which is one of the industry’s most deliver service at any speed based on the equipment
comprehensive telecommunications network databases deployed.
spanning over two million miles of fiber in 48 states. With
access to information from both national and regional carriers, The Majority of Dark Fiber Network Providers
FiberLocator brings you the data you need to customize and Do Not offer SLAs
optimize your dark fiber network. In the event of a fiber cut, the network provider will offer a
Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) guarantee. In effect, the network
Critical Points to Understand about Dark FIber
provider will guarantee that a repair crew will be dispatched
A Working Definition and Brief History of Dark Fiber within a certain number of hours of a reported outage, typically
within four hours. Once the crew arrives on the scene, they will
In fiber optic communications, dark fiber or unlit fiber
issue an estimate of MTTR.
(sometimes known as fibre) is the name given to fiber optic
cables which have been laid in the ground but have yet to be In most cases fiber cuts are catastrophic in nature. One
used. The cables are not yet connected to any optical device example might be a backhoe digging up fiber. This type of
on either end of the fiber run. They were installed with the incident requires extensive work to repair. The key point to
purpose of being used at some point in the future. keep in mind is that the responsibility of reporting the outage
falls on the customer. Many dark fiber providers do not have
The term “dark fiber” was coined when the potential network
the ability to monitor their network facilities because they are
capacity of telecommunication infrastructure was discussed
not delivering service over it.
but now also refers to the increasingly common practice of
leasing fiber optic cables from a network service provider. Prepare for a Construction Project, Not a Simple Install

Dark Fiber is an Infrastructure, Not a Service Because dark fiber is infrastructure, connecting to an existing
backbone typically requires construction to connect to
Traditional telecom is sold (or leased) as a service with a enterprise locations. Some buildings are "lit" meaning that a
Service Level Agreement (SLA). Lit service is based on leasing dark fiber provider has already installed fiber into the building,
a part of the carrier’s available bandwidth for a certain price at but most require lateral construction. A lateral is defined as the
a certain throughput. The carrier is responsible for maintaining network segment that connects a building’s Minimum Point of
the network and all of the equipment required to deliver Entry (MPoE) to the existing backbone. In layman's terms, it
service. If the service goes down or is under-performing based is the fiber connecting the basement of a building to the
on clearly stated metrics, the customer calls the service manhole in the street where the existing backbone cable runs.

Information provided herein is intended for informational purposes only. All

W A S D P White Paper information is subject to pathway verification, site survey and capacity availability.
Fiber Locator Dark Fiber 101 Tutorial

In some cases existing conduit from a variety of sources can be service from a “lit” service provider, the complete freedom and
utilized to connect to the provider’s backbone. Some examples control the customer gains by provisioning its own service far
are the Local Exchange Carriers (LECs), cable companies, outweigh the more difficult installation. Once the customer
electric companies and sometimes the building owner. The owns the infrastructure, the customer is no longer at the mercy
dark fiber provider will "petition" the owner of the conduit for of the service provider for maintenance schedules, service
a right to use. If no spare conduit is available the provider will upgrades and capacity increases.
then apply for a permit to trench from the manhole to the
A major advantage to choosing dark fiber is the ability to
basement of the building. This is a less desirable option
upgrade bandwidth as needed without incurring any
because of the time required to obtain permits and the cost of
additional monthly cost for the network. Other benefits include
construction.
choosing ideal maintenance windows and schedule upgrades
Prior to entering the building the network provider must have to equipment at convenient times for the organization, not the
a license granted by the building owner. Many times this is carrier. With dark fiber, a customer has a nearly infinite amount
referred to as an access agreement. It states the rules to which of capacity, making the network scalable and cost-effective.
the provider must adhere and the locations that the provider
can place splice cases and conduit. It will also contain Fiber Characteristics
insurance and indemnity clauses.
At the general level, a digital electrical signal is converted to
Once the provider terminates at the MPoE, (specified by the an optical signal and transmitted across an optical fiber using
building owner but typically within 50' of the network light. It is received by a Light Concentrating Device (LCD) that
penetration), an Inside Plant (ISP) must be located or converts the optical signal back into a digital electrical signal.
constructed to get the fiber to the customer premises. As an There are several key characteristics of dark fiber—including
example, a customer's office is on the 23rd floor of an office distance, decibel loss and dispersion—that affect the receiver's
building. The ISP will need to extend from the MPoE, typically ability to correctly interpret the contents of the signal. These
in the basement, through conduit and cabling, called a riser, to characteristics determine the equipment required to deliver
the 23rd floor. service over the fiber. It is important to understand these
characteristics to see how dark fiber can save you money.
In the event that a customer is negotiating a lease for office
space and considering dark fiber, it would be prudent to have Distance
the building owner provide "riser rights" as part of the lease.
Many of the operational networks within today’s cities are
This would allow use of the existing facilities or an existing
made of copper. The inherent capacity limits of copper means
path from the leased office to the telecommunications
these networks are not able to handle the heaviest Internet
demarcation point. Use of existing risers can save tens of
and data traffic. Dark fiber refers to glass fiber optic cable with
thousands of dollars of construction costs.
a narrow core that limits the diffraction and absorption of light
When the physical path is completed and all network elements during the transmission. Thus, greater distances are able to be
are spliced together, the provider must complete a test and traveled before decibel loss is a problem. Because single-
turn-up package. This involves shooting light from one end of mode fiber typically uses a 1300 nm wavelength source, dark
the connection to the other. The test, called an Optical Time fiber cables can be run between 25 and 40 miles before
Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) test, will repeaters are required.
provide information on the
characteristics of the fiber. These
characteristics have a large impact on Building Entry Elements
the equipment required to deliver Splice
Property Line Enclosure
service over the fiber, and are described
below. Target Inside Cabling
Building (non-diverse)

Benefits of Dark Fiber Outweigh

Drawbacks in Most Cases
Lateral Connecting Carrier
Telecom Building Access Building Access to Backbone
Though the process is more Equipment Manhole or Pole Network Backbone
complicated than simply ordering

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Fiber Locator Dark Fiber 101 Tutorial

Therefore, dark fiber is able to provide a greater strength and signal strength the signal can undergo until the receiver cannot
continuity of signal over longer distances with less need to interpret the signal. Attenuation can be attributed to a number
purchase repeaters to boost your signal. of key factors: fiber distance, dirty fiber connectors, or number
of splices and patch panel connections and splices. The
Some networks use Large Effective Area Fiber (LEAF) that runs
decibel loss can also vary with the actual wavelength that is
at 1550 nm and provide up to 70 miles, and sometimes more
being used. The shorter the wavelength, the higher the fiber
with highly exotic hardware, before needing repeaters.
loss incurred per mile.

Increasing Distance
Dispersion
There are a number of factors which will affect the attainable
Fiber optimized for metropolitan environments should be
distance of dark fiber. External hardware devices are able to
operating in the entire wavelength range from 1280 nm to
increase the distance an optical signal will travel between
1625 nm. Also, a low value Polarization Mode Dispersion
endpoints. What element of physics you are trying to
(PMD) is optimal. Finally, dark fiber should have low dispersion
counteract determines the type of device to use to extend the
(in the 1400 nm band) for cost-effective 10 Gb/s operation in
distance attainable. One of two devices is typically used to
order to best support use of coarse systems to operate across
extend distances within a dark fiber network – an Optical Fiber
all bands.
Amplifier (OFA) or a regenerator.

Optical Fiber Amplifier Types of Fiber Optic Cable

An optical fiber amplifier is used to overcome attenuation Operating a fiber optic system with maximal efficiency requires
issues on the fiber. With an OFA, light (power) will be added knowing what type of fiber is being used and why.
(amplified) to existing wavelengths without reverting the signal Understanding the characteristics of different fiber types will
to an electrical state. The amount of power added is dependent help you choose the optimal application and achieve the
on the number of wavelengths being amplified, the efficiencies best performance.
of the amplifier and the strength of the wavelengths being There are two basic types of fiber: multi-mode fiber and
amplified. The major disadvantage of OFAs is the introduction single-mode fiber. Multi-mode fiber is best designed for short
of noise from unwanted signals. Thus, there are limits to how transmission distances and is suited for use in LAN systems
many times an OFA can be used to increase the distance and video surveillance. Single-mode fiber is designed for
before having to use the more costly method of regeneration. longer transmission distances, and is the best option for
long-distance telephony and multi-channel television
Regeneration
broadcast systems.
Regeneration compensates for both attenuation and
dispersion but may be more costly to design. Regeneration Multi-mode Fiber
translates the optical signal back into its original electrical With multi-mode fiber, numerous modes or light rays are
format, cleans up noise and translates it back to an optical carried simultaneously through the waveguide. Modes result
signal for retransmission. This process provides you with
3R regeneration:

> Reshape: Restores the wavelength back to a well-defined

signal pattern. Multi-mode

> Re-time: Puts the electrical signal through a noise buffer and
the signal timing is re-aligned.

> Re-amplify: Re-launches the wavelength with renewed

signal strength. Single-mode

Decibel Loss
Decibel loss refers to the loss in the optical signal strength.
When the signal is weakened, the receiver is not able to
process the signal. The key factor is the amount of loss in

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Fiber Locator Dark Fiber 101 Tutorial

from the fact that light will only propagate in the fiber core at Single-mode fiber has disadvantages. The smaller core diameter
discrete angles within the cone of acceptance. This fiber type makes coupling light into the core more difficult. The tolerances
has a much larger core diameter, compared to single-mode for single-mode connectors and splices are also much more
fiber, and is easier to splice. Multi-mode fiber is commonly demanding. Another important characteristic of single-mode
used for intra-building connections and short distance fibers is that they commonly experience nonlinearities that can
applications. The key benefit of multi-mode fiber is the greatly affect system performance.
inexpensive cost of the electronics used to terminate the fiber.
Common types of single-mode fiber deployed in dark fiber
Multi-mode fiber may be categorized as either step-index or
networks include SMF28 and LEAF SMF28 fiber is the most
graded-index fiber.
widely deployed fiber in the world. Typically used in short and
Multi-mode Step-index Fiber moderate distance metropolitan and access networks, SMF28 is
known for its reliability as well as for its ease of splicing and
Three different light waves travel down the fiber. One mode
strippable coating. SMF28 offers full-spectrum performance and
travels straight down the center of the core. A second mode
operates existing metropolitan and access networks as well as
travels at a steep angle and bounces back and forth by total
supports newer technologies and broader fiber deployment.
internal reflection. The third mode exceeds the critical angle
and refracts into the cladding. This causes the second mode to LEAF a non-zero dispersion shifted fiber with large effective area,
travel a longer overall distance than the first mode, causing the was designed to provide cost-effective, high bit-rate long-haul
two modes to arrive at separate times. networks. LEAF can, in its latest iterations, transmit higher levels
of power through moderate dispersion and minimize the non-
The index of refraction in the core is higher than the index of
linear effects that often degrade system performance. Particularly
refraction of the cladding. The light that enters at less than the
effective for emerging technologies, LEAF is compatible with a
critical angle is guided along the fiber. The principle of total
variety of modulation formats.
internal reflection applies to multi-mode step-index fiber.
Single-mode fiber is commonly used for longer distance
Multi-mode Graded-index Fiber applications given its lower attenuation characteristics. SMF28 is
Graded-index refers to the refractive index of the core used for shorter distances and TDM-based networks. LEAF is
decreasing gradually farther from the center of the core. The used for longer distances and Dense Wavelength Division
light rays will follow a serpentine path being gradually bent Multiplexing (DWDM) applications. The single biggest drawback
back toward the center by the refractive index. This reduces to single-mode fiber is the cost of the electronics used to
the arrival time disparity because all modes arrive at about the terminate the fiber.
same time.
Accounting Impact of a Lease vs. Pre-paid
The modes traveling in a straight line are in a higher refractive
index, so they travel slower than the serpentine modes. These Indefeasible Rights of Use (IRUs
travel farther but move faster in the lower refractive index of When building a dark fiber network, there is more to consider
the outer core region. than just technology and communications. Depending on the
contractual structure of a network and equipment, there are
Single-mode Fiber also tax implications to consider. Being aware of these will help
Single-mode fiber allows for a higher capacity to transmit you implement the network that best benefits your
information. It can retain the fidelity of each light pulse over organization financially as well as technologically.
longer distances, and it exhibits no dispersion caused by
The key to gaining understanding of the accounting impact of
multiple modes. Single-mode fiber also enjoys lower fiber
leasing, as opposed to a pre-paid IRU, lies in the basic nature
attenuation than multi-mode fiber. Thus, more information can
of each of these contract types. According to Generally
be transmitted per unit of time. Like multi-mode fiber, early
Accepted Accounting Principals (GAAP), a lease contract is
single-mode fiber was generally characterized as step-index fiber
viewed as an expense, and a pre-paid IRU contract an asset.
(the refractive index of the fiber core is a step above that of the
cladding rather than graduated as it is in graded-index fiber). Therefore, the lease of dark fiber is accounted as a current
Modern single-mode fibers have evolved into more complex liability. In addition, the entire remaining contract is accounted
designs such as matched clad, depressed clad and other as a non-current liability. Since the lease does not encompass
exotic structures. the majority of the useful life of the asset being used it is

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Fiber Locator Dark Fiber 101 Tutorial

considered an operating expense. This affects the balance Dark Fiber Network Advantage
sheet and cash flow worksheet in terms of how it is reported
Healthcare Group Meets Goals by Deploying a
to the managers, board members, and stakeholders of your
Dark Fiber Network
organization. As the lease accounting format of GAAP applies
to dark fiber, no new or significant accounting issues have Optical networks such as WDM are becoming increasingly
been raised. popular to government agencies and healthcare organizations
due to their speed, scalability and security compliance. By
An organization purchasing the dark fiber would record the
operating a sound and secure communications infrastructure,
cost of the dark fiber as an asset to be amortized over the life
an organization can enjoy the benefits of rapidly advancing
of the contract benefit period,
technologies, enhanced
typically 20 years. Your
connectivity and improved
amortization table and method “Our caregivers, no matter their
customer/constituent
will be determined by your location, have instant access to vital satisfaction.
organizations accounting
department or CPA. Your
patient information that improves their A hospital group recently
organization makes a one time diagnoses and treatments, thus needed to invest in improved
payment for the right to use medical IT but first needed a
enhancing the patient care”
the dark fiber and its operations more reliable connectivity
and maintenance. Thus, the Director of IS Operations, Hospital solution to input and store
purchaser is entitled to service information as well as support
credits if the dark fiber suffers an outage and the purchaser the transfer of information between hospitals. By upgrading their
suffers a financial loss. The purchaser is able to transfer the communications, their goals were simple: deliver superior patient
risks associated with the ownership of the dark fiber, including care with more efficiency while controlling costs.
operation and maintenance of the dark fiber. The purchaser
Finding the solution for the hospital group required assessing
takes on the risks on flow of traffic, routing, electronic delivery
their communications needs along with the availability and
equipment, and obsolescence.
variety of networks in their area. Because the hospital group
The essential difference in the accounting impact of leasing had large bandwidth requirements coupled with tight security
versus pre-paid IRUs is whether it is classified as an asset or regulations, a traditional “lit” network was not the right fit.
liability and its effect on the cash flow, balance sheet, and Instead a dark fiber alternative was readily accessible and more
taxes of the organization. Being aware of the possible tax efficiently and effectively deployed to meet the needs and
implications is wise when embarking upon building a dark fiber requirements of the group.
network. Speak to your accountant or tax professional about
which situation is most advantageous to your organization. “NEF helped me compare high-capacity
lit services to dark fiber with an
unbiased opinion.” CIO, Hospital
Downtown
Hospital

Healthcare Group Benefits from Faster Speeds, Lower Costs

Ambulatory
Care Center A dark fiber network was created to connect several major
buildings within a 100 km radius. The hospital group leased
DWDM
dark fiber from a regional provider and invested in scalable
Data Center equipment so that as their data traffic and technology needs
grow, their network can accommodate the emerging
Suburban
technologies and support the organizational growth.
CWDM Hospital
Now the hospital group benefits from a communications
network which is both cost-effective and performance-rich.
Backup With improvement in speed and reliability, predictable
Site
maintenance schedules and HIPAA compliance, the hospital

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Fiber Locator Dark Fiber 101 Tutorial

group realized its goals of enhancing patient care, improving Financial Services Companies Realize Connectivity and
network efficiency and gaining an affordable Security Goals with Dark Fiber
communications solution. Because of the availability of dark fiber and the ability to
In fact, the hospital group was able to deploy a completely upgrade bandwidth and service without incurring additional
scalable, next-generation network that provides five times cost, many customers find a custom dark fiber network is the
the bandwidth of a traditional LEC lit service network for less best connectivity option. Financial services companies,
than half the cost. through their enhanced networks, are also able to handle
increasing volumes of time-sensitive traffic and implement
Financial Services Industry Prepares for All critical, robust enterprise applications such as data mining.
Contingencies with Dark Fiber
Specifically, dark fiber enables financial service companies to
With recent natural disasters and the ever-present threat meet each of their connectivity goals:
of incidents, either accidental or malicious, the financial
services industry has had to make critical changes in
> Enhanced Security: With physical-layer isolation, companies
comply with government regulations and enjoy a heightened
telecommunications. Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery
level of network security.
(BC/DR) programs have many financial services organizations
proactively pursuing initiatives to protect their information > Increased Scalability: Dark fiber enables customers to
network. upgrade bandwidth and service without incurring
additional cost.
These businesses want networks with:

> Enhanced security

> Increased scalability

> Lowered risk

Solaris , Windows ®, Linux
TM Midwestern City
> Minimized downtime
Site A Site B
> Government mandate
compliance ESCON Wavelength ESCON
Ciena Division Ciena
ON
By designing and deploying ESC Multiplexing

a dark fiber network, these

FC
organizations can achieve Mainframe Other LAN 100 Miles
Traffic
their stated goals, as well as Ciena
Other LAN
realize critical time and cost Traffic
savings benefits.

More specifically, a growing

Solaris , Windows ®, Linux
TM

number of finance companies DS-3 Circuit

1,000 Miles
Data Center
require off-site storage, multiple on East Coast
data centers and high speeds to
communicate between their offices. FC

Without flexibility and affordability, ESCON / FICON Ciena

traditional lit services are no longer the

solution. Other LAN
Traffic

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Fiber Locator Dark Fiber 101 Tutorial

“NEF provided a detailed fiber survey,

which helped us select a data center
location with optimal network
connectivity.”
Vice President, Business Continuance,
Major Financial Firm

> Lowered Risk: By having a user-friendly network that supports

the back-up of critical IT systems, companies minimize their
exposure to losing critical data and nearly eliminate user error.

> Minimized Downtime: Network design and redundancy

supports the financial services industry’s need for zero
downtime.

> Compliance with Government Mandates: A dark fiber

network allows for the storage and transmission of
voluminous data blocks across long distances in adherence
to recent legislation.

1201 Winterson Road

Specialists in enabling new Linthicum, MD 21090
1.800.207.3714 (US)
application-driven possibilities over 1.410.865.8671 (outside US)
high-performance networks. +353.1.2436711 (international)
www.ciena.com

Ciena may from time to time make changes to the products or specifications contained herein without notice. © 2008 Ciena Corporation. All rights reserved. WP056 5.2008