News and perspectives from the world of fiber optic networking

There's a lot to say in the world of fiber optic networking - planning, design, mapping, technology, software, database, permitting, dark fiber, fiber-to-the-home. The experienced network professionals of 3-GIS know the challenges you face & implement solutions daily.

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Mar 25, 2020 3:17:53 PM
Article 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. 

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Feb 25, 2020 2:59:25 PM
Article 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. 

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Jan 16, 2020 10:08:22 AM
Article 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?

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Oct 9, 2019 10:14:05 AM
Article 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

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Sep 17, 2019 3:15:07 PM
Article Article
  • Fiber network management
  • Telecom technologies

2024 will be here soon. Is your company ready for change?

End of an era

In 2018, Ericsson (ERIC) announced the end-of-life for its physical network inventory system, a widely known GIS for managing telecommunications networks, Network Engineer. This, coupled with ESRI’s official retirement of 10.6.x Desktop, has left Network Engineer customers hanging on for solutions to take them into the future of network management. Many companies who currently have Network Engineer are looking to replace it with a contemporary ESRI solution - ArcGIS Pro and thin client browser-based ArcGIS Server solutions seem to be the crowd favorites.

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Aug 26, 2019 7:59:25 AM
Article Article
  • Fiber network construction
  • Fiber network management
  • Fiber network design and automation

Don't lock yourself out of your data

Proprietary data structures and closed vendor ecosystems of yesteryear are out-of-date. Today’s enterprise applications are increasingly defined on standard data structures. It’s all about openness and collaboration.

Telecom companies often focus on how hard or easy it is to get data into an asset management system - rightfully so considering ease of use is key to user adoption and quality data. But is the potential pain of adopting a new system really worth the reward? Our easy answer: yes.

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Aug 1, 2019 2:47:28 PM
Video Video
  • Esri
  • Fiber network management
  • Fiber network design and automation
  • Fiber network industry and markets

3-GIS CEO Tom Counts is on set

3-GIS CEO Tom Counts was interviewed for a video series called GIS Cafe at the 2019 Esri User Conference. During the segment Tom gave his thoughts on the future of telecom, the importance of a fiber network management system that can scale and the direction of 3-GIS’s product development. Watch Tom’s interview below.

Tom explains more about 3-GIS | Web and 3-GIS | Mobile, which help engineers, service providers, and utilities design, construct, and manage their fiber optic networks. These solutions are developed on a platform of ArcGIS server that could reach the entire enterprise using a thin client. The GUI is  focused singularly on designing, building, and managing fiber networks and underneath at the server side we are ready to scale. 

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Jul 18, 2019 3:12:42 PM
Video Video
  • Esri
  • Fiber network management
  • Fiber network design and automation
  • Fiber network industry and markets

Esri puts the spotlight on 3-GIS

As winner of Esri’s Expanding to the Cloud award 3-GIS was featured in an Esri Spotlight video. Watch to hear CEO Tom Count’s take on how fiber will change our everyday lives and how 3-GIS is leading the way for faster fiber deployments and better network management.

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