Global Hyperscaler Scales Rapidly with Dark Fiber

Label	Detail	Value Proposition
Client Type	Global Cloud Provider / Hyperscaler	Massive-Scale Infrastructure
Core Challenge	Need for Terabits of immediate capacity to launch a new Availability Zone (AZ) while retaining full control over the optical equipment.	Time-to-Market & Need for Proprietary Optics
Solution Deployed	Long-Term Multi-Pair Dark Fiber Lease	Unlit Asset, Total Control
Technical Key	Enabled client to deploy Proprietary 400ZR/800G Optics immediately upon handover.	Future-Proofing & Technological Autonomy
Measurable Result	New Cloud AZ launched On Time and Under Budget. Cost-per-bit is fixed for 15 years.	Fixed OPEX regardless of capacity increase

Client Profile and Critical Challenge

The client is one of the world’s leading global cloud infrastructure providers, managing multi-tenant public cloud services. Their challenge centered on the rapid and massive expansion of a new core availability zone (AZ) in a major US metro. This new zone needed to be linked to their existing regional backbone with terabits of immediate capacity to handle inter-AZ data synchronization, virtualization, and client workload migration. They required complete autonomy over the network infrastructure to deploy proprietary, cutting-edge optical technology (specifically 400ZR and 800G coherent optics) and wanted a long-term asset that would support upgrades well into the next decade (1.2T+). Buying the fiber outright was not feasible due to time constraints, but a conventional managed service lacked the control and scalability they demanded.

The Solution: Massive, Long-Term Dark Fiber Lease

We developed a strategic partnership with the hyperscaler’s infrastructure team, providing a customized Long-Term Dark Fiber Lease designed for extreme capacity.

High-Count Fiber Asset: We secured and leased multiple dedicated fiber pairs from a high-count cable that ran directly between their new and existing massive data centers. This provided the raw capacity required for their multi-terabit demands.
Full Network Autonomy: By opting for the Dark Fiber Lease, the client took ownership of the optical layer. This was critical, as it allowed them to deploy their in-house, custom-designed DWDM systems and proprietary software-defined networking (SDN) controllers without vendor restrictions.
Optimized Routing and Testing: Our engineering team collaborated with the client to perform extensive OTDR (Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer) testing and secured diverse entry points into both facilities. This ensured the fiber was flawless and the pathways were optimized for predictable signal integrity over the distance.
Financial Predictability: The client executed a 15-year lease agreement. This decoupled their network CAPEX (equipment) from their fiber OPEX (lease cost). As they push capacity from 400G to 800G and beyond over the next decade, their fixed monthly fiber cost remains unchanged, driving the cost-per-bit to near-zero over the term.
Accelerated Handover: Recognizing the client’s aggressive time-to-market requirement, we accelerated the provisioning process, delivering the spliced, tested, and ready-to-light fiber pairs in less than 90 days, significantly faster than typical construction timelines.

The Business Impact and Key Results

The strategic Dark Fiber lease was pivotal to the successful deployment of the new availability zone:

On-Time Zone Launch: The client launched the new AZ on schedule, immediately integrating terabits of connectivity into their core network.
Maximum Flexibility: They successfully deployed their own 400ZR and 800G optical gear, achieving better performance and cost efficiencies than any off-the-shelf vendor solution.
Controlled OPEX: The fixed long-term lease provided financial stability, allowing budget teams to accurately predict long-term infrastructure costs regardless of future capacity upgrades.
Ultimate Security: As a private, dedicated asset, the fiber provided the highest level of physical security and compliance.

FAQs

What is the difference between a "Wavelength Service" and a "Dark Fiber Lease"?

Simply put, Wavelength Service is a “Lit” service. Therefore, we provide the fiber, the equipment (lasers, DWDM gear), and all the 24/7 management. You just plug your router into our hand-off and get instant capacity (10G to 800G).

Conversely, a Dark Fiber Lease is an “Unlit” service. Crucially, we only provide the bare fiber optic cable. You bring all of your own optical equipment, manage it, and handle future upgrades. In short, Wavelengths are for immediate capacity; Dark Fiber is for ultimate control.

Is a Wavelength Service secure? Is my traffic shared?

Yes, our Wavelength Services are inherently secure. Because they are a Layer 1 connection, your traffic is delivered as a dedicated color of light across our network. Consequently, it is physically isolated from all other customer data, including the public internet. This provides a Private Fiber Connection that meets strict enterprise and financial security standards.

What level of latency can I expect on a Wavelength Service?

Our advantage is ultra-low, guaranteed latency. First, as a Layer 1 service, we bypass all slow routing and processing layers. Moreover, for critical routes (like financial corridors), we can provide a Guaranteed Latency Service Level Agreement (SLA). Therefore, the latency is predictable and minimal, making our circuits ideal for synchronous data replication and high-frequency trading.

Can I upgrade my Wavelength speed (e.g., from 100G to 400G) without replacing the fiber?

Yes, absolutely. Because our services are based on DWDM technology, we use a single fiber pair to carry many individual channels (wavelengths). Therefore, upgrading your service (e.g., moving from a 100G circuit to a 400G circuit) often requires only swapping out the optical equipment on our end, not physically replacing the Scalable Wavelength Capacity in the ground. This makes upgrades fast and non-disruptive.

Do you offer Wavelength Services for both metropolitan (metro) and long-haul routes?

Yes, we offer complete geographic coverage. Specifically, our Metro Wavelength Service connects data centers and offices within a single city (e.g., Dallas DCI). Conversely, our Long-Haul Optical Transport connects distant cities (e.g., New York to Chicago). In both cases, you receive the same level of dedicated capacity and managed reliability.

Ready to Discuss Your High-Capacity Network Requirements?

Don’t let bandwidth limitations slow your business. Our network engineers are ready to design a custom DWDM solution tailored to your specific endpoints and capacity needs (from 100G up to 800G).