News and perspectives from the world of fiber optic networking

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Telecom technologies
• FTTH
• Fiber deployment

Fiber Connect 2024: Shaping the future of connectivity

As the dust settles on another successful Fiber Connect conference, we at 3-GIS find ourselves energized by the innovative spirit and collaborative atmosphere that permeated the Nashville event. Fiber Connect 2024, hosted by the Fiber Broadband Association, brought together industry leaders and technology pioneers, united in the mission to bridge the digital divide and propel America's connectivity infrastructure into the future. 

• Fiber network management
• App modernization
• 3-GIS | Web
• Fiber network planning

No more versioning?

For physical network inventory systems, especially for fiber networks, versioning is a crucial concept. Versioning allows network planners and engineers to manage multiple states of a network, including how the network currently exists (as-built) and how it is planned to be (future state). Traditional versioning methods, however, come with significant challenges. In this blog, we will explore these challenges and the alternative provided by 3-GIS.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• GIS
• Communications service providers

Elevating telecom network management with advanced GIS tools

The world of telecom is changing fast, and managing complex networks is getting harder. But there's good news: GIS (Geographic Information System) is here to help and is changing how we plan, design, and manage our telecom networks. Let's explore a few ways using GIS makes a big difference.

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies
• App modernization
• Press

Along the Path: How can we adopt AI and automation to solve data challenges?

Welcome to the 2024 Q3 edition of Along the Path. In this edition, we’re diving into ways to implement AI and automation to streamline network data capture, migration, and management.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• GIS
• Communications service providers

Combating the telecom skills challenge

The telecoms market is seeing rapid change, perhaps even faster than we first expected. Alongside this, the current economic climate has caused a push for network operators to shift focus from network expansion to connecting customers. That has sadly meant that reductions in headcount have been a common theme, as evidenced in a recent study showing that 76% of communications service providers (CSPs) surveyed had reduced their workforce in the last 6 years.¹ 

These reductions, coupled with those leaving the industry due to retirement, have created a collective ‘brain drain’ with the knowledge tied up in systems, processes, and network architecture now at risk of being lost. Based on these challenges, operators will need to do more with less to operate efficiently.  

• Fiber network management
• Fiber network industry and markets
• App modernization
• Data integrity

Leveraging AI and automation to streamline data collection and management

Telecom network operators face several data challenges, including as-built backlogs, data silos, and legacy system limitations. Manual data entry and cumbersome workflows contribute to these issues, often resulting in poor data quality and missing information. Addressing these challenges involves not only improving data collection processes but also implementing robust data management practices to ensure data integrity and accessibility.

• Fiber network construction
• Fiber network industry and markets
• Fiber deployment

Can BIM help us build better fibre networks?

The development and deployment of fibre networks play a crucial role in shaping our digital landscape. As we navigate this era of rapid technological advancement, it's important to explore innovative approaches that streamline the construction process, enhance efficiency, and ensure sustainability. Learning from other industries can greatly aid in this endeavour. Building Information Modelling (BIM), a revolutionary methodology mandated by the UK government for the construction industry, offers many parallels to how we conceive, design, and build fibre networks. 

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Internet service
• RDOF

The vital role of connectivity in modern agriculture

The importance of high-speed internet connectivity stretches across all facets of our lives, impacting sectors we may not think of, such as agriculture. Connectivity is not only important, but essential for sustaining agricultural communities in the United States, as emphasized by Andy Berke, the administrator of the Rural Utilities Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).