Telecom and utilities news and perspectives

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Broadband funding
• Press

Telecom industry pulse: May 2026 recap

Network news roundup

May's fiber and broadband news reflected a global industry moving fast. Many publicly funded programs produced their first real connections, major operators made multibillion-dollar consolidation moves, independent providers pushed into new markets, and new legislation raised the bar for broadband funding accountability. Fiber Connect 2026 brought the industry together in Orlando, Florida to make sense of it all.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Telecom technologies
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

What network operators are weighing after Fiber Connect 2026

Fiber Connect 2026 confirmed what teams across the industry are already feeling: the U.S. fiber build is still very much in motion. Across the show floor, conversations were direct, operators were engaged, and the teams responsible for building, managing, and scaling networks were asking harder questions about the tools they rely on.

• Esri
• 3-GIS telecom solutions
• Telecom Domain Network

First deep dive into Esri’s Telecom Domain Network – Rotterdam, April 8–10

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend Esri's Telecom Domain Network (TDN) Knowledge Transfer session in Rotterdam. While others from the 3-GIS team have attended two separate Knowledge Transfer sessions in Redlands, CA in 2025, this was my first exposure to the model at a deep technical level, working directly with the Esri team and other partners who are actively engaging in its evolution.

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

What’s new in the Lio 1 release of 3-GIS | Web

The latest telecom release of 3-GIS | Web, Lio 1, is here, bringing updates across the interface, equipment modeling, and day-to-day workflows.

From a redesigned interface to expanded equipment modeling and workflow improvements, Lio 1 focuses on making tasks simpler and more consistent across the network.

Here are a few highlights.

• Esri
• GIS
• Telecom Domain Network

Our key takeaways from Esri IMGIS International 2026

Last week, we attended the 2026 Esri International IMGIS conference in Frankfurt and joined GIS leaders, telecom operators, and industry partners, all facing the same shift in how networks are managed. The conference gave teams a chance to compare notes. What is working, what is not, and where things are breaking down between planning, field work, and operations. One thing stood out in every conversation. Now more than ever, GIS data needs to actively support the full network lifecycle. It can’t just sit idly in a system of record. 

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Employee spotlight

Employee spotlight: Seth Straayer

At 3-GIS, our work is powered by more than technology. It is powered by our people. From problem-solving behind the scenes to supporting customers and teammates every day, our employees bring the experience, care, and creativity that move our company forward.

In today's post, we're highlighting Seth Straayer, Senior Consultant. We recently sat down with him to learn more about his background, gain his perspective on industry trends, and get his thoughts on where telecom is headed next.

• Esri
• Telecom technologies
• Telecom Domain Network

What migrating to the Telecom Domain Network actually involves

The Telecom Domain Network (TDN) introduces a new way to model telecom infrastructure within the ArcGIS Utility Network. As organizations begin planning for adoption, a common question comes up: what does it actually take to move existing network data into this new framework?

While much of the conversation focuses on the structure of the TDN itself, the reality is that migration is less about the model and more about how existing data is translated, adapted, and rebuilt within it.

• Esri
• 3-GIS utilities solutions
• GIS
• Telecom Domain Network

Trace capabilities for the Telecom Domain Network in 3-GIS | Web

The Telecom Domain Network (TDN) provides a framework for modeling telecom infrastructure within the ArcGIS Utility Network. As organizations begin working with networks built on this model, an important question is how teams will interact with and analyze the connectivity inside those networks.

One of the most important capabilities for telecom analysis is network tracing. Tracing allows teams to follow connectivity across cables, splice points, and equipment to understand how infrastructure is linked and how services move through the network.