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We demonstrate the capability of accurate time transfer using optical fibres over long distances utilizing a dark fibre and hardware which is usually employed in two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT). Our time transfer through optical fibre (TTTOF) system is a variant of the standard TWSTFT by employing an optical fibre in the transmission path instead of free-space transmission of signals between two ground stations through geostationary satellites. As we use a dark fibre there are practically no limitations to the bandwidth of the transmitted signals so that we can use the highest chip rate of the binary phase-shift modulation available from the commercial equipment. This leads to an enhanced precision compared with satellite time transfer where the occupied bandwidth is limited for cost reasons. The TTTOF system has been characterized and calibrated in a common-clock experiment at PTB, and …