Fiber

MCNC operates and manages a statewide fiber-optic backbone that serves Community Anchor Institutions in North Carolina in an open, non-discriminatory manner. In some areas, MCNC provides lit service and other middle-mile services to private-sector middle or last-mile providers or wholesalers within MCNC service areas at reasonable rates and terms.

Fiber and Fiber-Facilities Service Options

Layer 1

Leased Dark Fiber, IRU Dark Fiber and Optical Wave

Layer 2

Ethernet Services (Point-to-Point and Multipoint-To-Multipoint)

Additional Service Options

IPv4 Addresses (lease), 24x7x365 NOC, and Fiber Construction

Facilities

Colocation Space Available

MCNC, through its operation of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), provides access to a variety of fiber optic-based services for K-12 schools, community colleges, private and public universities, research and non-profit health care institutions, libraries, public safety offices, and state and local governments across the state of North Carolina.

Leverage MCNC’s Open Access Network

MCNC also offers dark fiber IRU or short-term lease options to commercial entities including broadband service providers, cable operators, wireless carriers and commercial businesses.

View MCNC’s “Leveraging MCNC’s Open Access Network“ to learn more.

Leased dark fiber provides the capability to use and the right to attach customer’s equipment to the ends of the designated MCNC dark fiber for a specified term. The dark fiber does not include electronics or optronics and is not “lit” or activated service.

Pricing is dependent upon customer needs and is developed on an individual case basis. MCNC will outline all costs including labor, materials, and equipment required to connect, splice, and test the dark fiber between demarcation points. “Demarcation points” for dark fiber are defined as the connection points between the MCNC-owned fiber infrastructure and the customer-owned fiber optic cable or peripheral equipment for the specific demarcation point(s) identified.

View MCNC’s “Dark Fiber Lease Agreement”

An IRU provides for the exclusive and indefeasible right to use one, or a pair, or more strands of MCNC’s dark fiber strands for up to 20 years for any legal purpose.

The use is subject to the requirements of federal grants awarded to MCNC by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). These include a federal security interest for all IRUs. An IRU for 6 strands or more are bound by certain provisions regarding nondiscrimination and interconnection use.

Pricing is dependent upon customer needs and is developed on an individual case basis. MCNC will outline all costs including labor, materials and equipment required to connect, splice and test the dark fiber between demarcation points. “Demarcation points” for dark fiber are defined as the connection points between the MCNC-owned fiber infrastructure and the customer-owned fiber optic cable or peripheral equipment for the specific demarcation point(s) identified.

Emergency repair and relocations of the fiber optic cable, including any dark fibers, are a pro rata share additional expense to the customer. The repair or relocation will be performed by MCNC or its contractor, subcontractor, or other designee in accordance with industry standards. As part of this service, MCNC will provide routine maintenance.

View MCNC’s “Dark Fiber IRU Agreement”

In some situations, an organization will request to connect fiber they own or have constructed directly to the backbone, NCREN. This is typically done to lease Internet service access. When constituents own their own fiber and want to connect to MCNC’s backbone, NCREN, MCNC may place managed CPE (Customer Premise Equipment) at the organizations demarc and MCNC’s 24x7x365 NOC can monitor and manage the Internet service.

The details of the fiber connection owned by the organization must be designed and/or approved by MCNC outside plant engineers. MCNC may allow different materials to be used based on specific applications; however, they will be reviewed and approved by the MCNC’s Outside Plant team.

View MCNC’s Connectivity “Terms and Conditions”