Fiber Surplus Index · edition 2026-09
Observed asking prices per foot for surplus single-mode outside-plant fiber optic cable in the US secondary market, by fiber count. 420 priced observations this edition.
This edition: First published edition. Baseline observations; month-over-month change commentary begins with the October edition.
Download CSV → · Methodology · Free to cite and republish with attribution to FutureNet Telecom USA.
Correction, 15 October 2026: this edition originally also showed the range FutureNet paid for good-condition reels. That column has been removed, from this page and from the CSV, because FutureNet no longer publishes what it pays: every reel is priced individually from its tag. The asking-price data below is unchanged.
| Fiber count | Obs. | Ask range /ft | Median ask /ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 ct | 48 | $0.14 – $0.99 | $0.21 |
| 24 ct | 73 | $0.21 – $1.64 | $0.25 |
| 36 ct | 18 | $0.22 – $0.58 | $0.31 |
| 48 ct | 50 | $0.29 – $5.01 | $0.39 |
| 72 ct | 34 | $0.33 – $2.12 | $0.46 |
| 96 ct | 40 | $0.43 – $0.88 | $0.53 |
| 144 ct | 54 | $0.81 – $1.21 | $0.93 |
| 288 ct | 51 | $0.56 – $2.34 | $1.64 |
| 432 ct | 52 | $1.32 – $3.47 | $2.85 |
These are asking prices, not transaction prices. The index observes what surplus material is listed at on the open market. Realized prices run below asks. We would rather state that plainly than imply a precision the data doesn’t carry.
This edition draws on 1 storefront source, and Corning accounts for 81% of priced observations — a real concentration worth knowing when you read the numbers. 106 of 436 observations are armored construction and 35 are micro. Full detail, including how we plan to widen the panel, is on the methodology page.
Send photos of the reel tags and we’ll put a firm offer in writing within 24 hours. Freight is ours.