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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Tim2ITlOR58ifVq4aWCwDfnzfX8z4LlGSBNqUr6iIE0hezMjY8sELqDg+Y2wruFg
 pPNloS667d3Ie1q6/jG+Fw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001449374-10-000081.txt : 20101124
<SEC-HEADER>0001449374-10-000081.hdr.sgml : 20101124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101124111532
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001449374-10-000081
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101123
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Jacquay John
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001293556

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23269
		FILM NUMBER:		101213831

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ABOVENET, INC.
		STREET 2:		360 HAMILTON AVENUE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABOVENET INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043533
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATION SERVICES, NEC [4899]
		IRS NUMBER:				113168327
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		360 HAMILTON AVE
		STREET 2:		1 NORTH LEXINGTON AVE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9144216700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		360 HAMILTON AVE
		STREET 2:		1 NORTH LEXINGTON AVE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10601

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970925

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONAL FIBER NETWORK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970806
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001043533</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABOVENET INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABVT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001293556</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jacquay John</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ABOVENET, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>360 HAMILTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WHITE PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP of Sales and Marketing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.135</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>42000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $60.99 to $61.75, inclusive.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within this range.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/John Jacquay</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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