This document provides a brief overview of fibre-sensing technologies and the possibilities offered by these techniques in both the structural monitoring of National Research and Education Network (NREN) infrastructure and in Earth observation and monitoring. Studying these new technologies by identifying potential NREN use cases, along with wider applications in the national and GÉANT pan-European infrastructures, offers a useful source of data to NRENs, and to the multiple and heterogeneous research communities connected by NRENs whose research stands to benefit. This document is aimed at NRENs but is comprehensible enough that other audiences, such as research communities and industries, will find it useful.