News and perspectives from the world of fiber optic networking

Article

• Fiber network construction
• Fiber network design and automation

Five lessons learned in the permitting process

We’re running the risk of stating the obvious here -- reliable internet access is essential. We’ve all had the opportunity to learn this first hand throughout the COVID-19 pandemic shelter-in-place orders. If you’re a telecom engineering firm, you’ve likely felt the urgency to deploy even more fiber even faster because of the pressure being applied to current networks around the world.

But deploying a fiber network is complex and protracted. From planning to design to permitting, it can take what feels like an eternity just to make it to the construction phase. 

Article

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies

Lift & shift to go remote

Communications service providers are seeking ways to increase their competitive edge and accelerate their digital transformation. Their IT managers are under pressure to raise the performance bar to higher speed and scale despite reductions in budget and siloed legacy systems. Recent studies have shown that 90% of companies worldwide are currently utilizing some type of cloud service. From data storage to CRM applications and project management tools, organizations have shifted many of their business operations to the cloud. But what about service providers’ network management?

Article

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies

Six pillars of a robust network management system: Part III

Network management systems and processes are broken, which is bad timing for an industry undergoing such tremendous transformation. Innovations that address scale, automation, and intelligence are emerging, but they must be implemented with the big picture in mind. This picture must include the essential and data-rich environment of the outside plant, and must be powered by a management system that is capable of facilitating the desired transformation and promoting increasingly efficient business operations. 

Article

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies

Six pillars of a robust network management system: Part II

Network management systems and processes are broken, which is bad timing for an industry undergoing such tremendous transformation. Innovations that address scale, automation, and intelligence are emerging, but they must be implemented with the big picture in mind. This picture must include the essential and data-rich environment of the outside plant, and must be powered by a management system that is capable of facilitating the desired transformation and promoting increasingly efficient business operations. 

Article

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies

Six pillars of a robust network management system: Part I

Network management systems and processes are broken, which is bad timing for an industry undergoing such tremendous transformation. Innovations that address scale, automation, and intelligence are emerging, but they must be implemented with the big picture in mind. This picture must include the essential and data-rich environment of the outside plant, and must be powered by a management system that is capable of facilitating the desired transformation and promoting increasingly efficient business operations. 

Article

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies

Much ado about copper

While fiber is considered the future, copper is still very much a part of the present and will continue to play a key role in providing connectivity. Many of today’s providers are struggling with maintaining forward thinking and relevant management systems that consider their existing assets while also allowing for the flexibility in gaining a competitive advantage by deploying newer technologies. 3-GIS | Network Solutions has historically provided tools to manage fiber network assets including conduit, structures, and conventional and blown fiber within a single configurable interface. 

Article

• Fiber network design and automation
• Telecom technologies
• Utilities

Avoiding fiber deployment roadblocks in the utility market

Fiber networks are the future for utility companies and co-ops to bring new services to their market. Getting these networks deployed with accurate data to successfully avoid costly deployment roadblocks that could lead to insufficient reports, time loss, and operational frustrations is key to bringing network services to their customers faster and achieving better business operating results. So, what are the possible problems and obstructions utilities could encounter? And what tools are available to help prevent them from disrupting their deployment efforts?

Article

• Fiber network design and automation
• Telecom technologies

ML/AI for the digitized physical layer

Why digitize the physical layer?

Deploying new infrastructure - from fiber cable laterals to new active equipment - is fundamental for 5G network readiness and network transformation. As the number of connected devices increases, so does the complexity of asset management. Layer “zero” transformation is more than using digitization and geolocation, and maintaining the connectivity of the assets; it involves applying Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) about the assets and situational data