The Role of Dark Fiber in Modern Data Center Infrastructure

Organizations have sought dark fibers to enhance their network capabilities, with the world demanding high connectivity.

This concept, for several years back, has been helping lines of communication, serving as a key enabler for high-performance, scalable, and secure connectivity.

Data centers have used dark fibers to help meet clients’ demands for the past several years. It has become the highway for data to transfer to multiple networks faster from one point to another.

What is Dark Fiber?

Dark fiber refers to unused fiber-optic cables laid during the initial infrastructure expansion

These physical cables are latent resources awaiting deployment for high-capacity communication networks. The term “dark” indicates the absence of data signals or light in the fiber. They are not usually currently active on transmitting data, but they are installed and on standby, ready to use.

The Relationship Between Dark Fiber and Data Centers

The rapid expansion of digital services has created an overwhelming need for high connectivity with reliable infrastructure.

Dark fiber and advanced facilities, such as a data center Tier 4, offer a transformative solution.

A Tier 4 data center, especially if it’s certified by Uptime Institute, has the highest level of reliability and performance, providing redundancy and fault tolerance.

Integrating dark fiber with these data centers creates a high-performance infrastructure that can handle enormous data loads with incredible speed, scalability, and security.

With all that is mentioned above, the combination of Tier 4 data centers and dark fibers can meet the demands of today’s needs for high connectivity and resilient infrastructure.

How does Dark Fiber Work?

Dark fibers are installed from one place to another at both ends, creating a physical network.

When activated, they convert data into light signals, send the light through the cable, and convert it back into data at the receiving end. These companies are called Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Dark fiber offers high flexibility and scalability, enabling companies to personalize their network infrastructure.

Businesses can maximize network performance and adapt bandwidth to meet increasing demands by using their own equipment to light the fiber. With reliance on shared networks, this method improves security and lowers latency.

How Does Dark Fiber Work for Data Centers?

There’s a relationship between Dark fiber and data centers.

Dark fiber enables data centers to maintain seamless, high-capacity connectivity while providing organizations with the scalability and security required to support their growing digital ecosystems.

For the reasons described above, data centers provide dark fiber with redundant routes for their clients, offering numerous advantages through their diverse physical networks.

High-Speed Connectivity

Dark fiber provides unmatched speeds, which are essential for handling the enormous data loads processed in data centers. Its low latency ensures efficient communication between data centers and endpoints.

Thus, businesses will gain efficient communication and connectivity, especially when data exchanges are required in urban environments.

In Indonesia, the association APJII (Asosiasi Penyelenggara Jasa Internet Indonesia) represents ISPs and other internet-related businesses. It facilitates interconnection between ISPs to enhance network distribution and connectivity across the country, giving better access to users. APJII operates two key site locations in Jakarta: in Cyber 1 and another in DRB’s CGK11, namely IIX-JK2. These locations strengthen the data center’s network connectivity, ensuring robust and efficient interconnection.

What Business Types Can Use Dark Fiber Data Centers?

A wide variety of industries can use dark fibers.

It all boils down to whether they need secure, high-speed, and scalable network solutions. Dark fiber data centers are emerging as game-changers, offering unparalleled performance and control.

However, some examples of industries that usually install dark fibers for smoother business operations include:

• Technology Companies:
  For big data, AI, and IoT applications.
• Finance and Banking:
  To ensure secure, real-time transactions.
• Media and Entertainment:
  For streaming, rendering, and editing large files.
• E-Commerce:
  To manage high-volume traffic and transaction data

Digital Realty Bersama for Your Data Center Solutions

Digital Realty Bersama is a provider of premier digital infrastructure solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of highly connected and scalable data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions.

The company is a joint venture that combines the expertise of Digital Realty, the largest global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions, with the experience of the Indonesian digital ecosystem and robust interconnection capabilities provided by Bersama Digital Data Centres and its shareholders—Saratoga, Provident, and Macquarie. In order to meet the critical infrastructure needs of enterprises and digital services companies in Indonesia, Digital Realty Bersama seeks to propel digital infrastructure and connectivity in Indonesia forward and be a vital connectivity hub that connects customers and partners to advanced and reliable digital solutions across the globe.