News and perspectives from the world of fiber optic networking

• Telecom technologies
• 3-GIS | Web
• Fiber network planning

Collecting railroad crossing information for fiber planning

Recently, I tuned into a webinar hosted by the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) all about permitting. One topic that caught my attention was the process of obtaining a railroad crossing permit, which, in the United States, requires including a standardized railroad crossing ID.

Curiosity piqued, and I decided to do a bit of sleuthing to see if this data was readily available. A quick Google search with the terms "Federal Railroad Crossing Esri" led me straight to the Federal Railroad Administration Safety Crossing Inventory, Form 71. I found that this database contained up-to-date information that could really simplify the permitting process.

• Fiber network management
• App modernization
• Digital transformation
• Communications service providers

Optimizing fiber asset management: Keys for successful network operations

Telecommunications is witnessing a surge in broadband development, especially in rural areas, driven largely by substantial funding initiatives from governments and private investors. This has sparked a race among incumbents and emerging contenders to rapidly expand their fiber footprints. However, securing funding is just one aspect of the larger picture.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Employee spotlight

Employee spotlight: An interview with Alan Gould

We caught up with Alan Gould, Implementation Engineer, to find out more about his long, varied career and his thoughts on the impact of technology in telecom.

• Fiber network management
• Fiber network industry and markets
• Altnets

Consolidation: The hot topic sweeping the UK fibre market

Consolidation. The word on everyone’s lips. If you work in the fibre industry, and you happen to have the privilege of residing in the home of bad weather that we call Great Britain (but would we live anywhere else?), then the only way you won't have heard this word is if you’ve been on a 6-month sabbatical to Tasmania studying wildlife.

Like everyone else, I’ve been reading the latest news stories, and, overall, agree that the UK fibre market is about to go through a period of volatility, shift, and then, eventually, stability. But this was always the plan, right?

• Fiber network management
• 3-GIS | Mobile
• 3-GIS | Web

Using 3-GIS | Web and Mobile to find a fault location

We all know it’s going to happen eventually. It does not matter who are you or how prepared you think are; your fiber is going to break. There are an unfathomable number of miles of extremely thin glass hanging in the air, buried underground, or just looped over and over.  

When a fault occurs, it can be a daunting task to test and locate exactly where that may be. Fortunately, there are tools and technology available at our fingertips to locate these faults quickly and accurately, so we can get the network back up and running as quickly as possible. Let’s look at a few of the tools 3-GIS users have at their disposal that can help during an outage scenario.

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies
• App modernization
• Digital transformation

Revolutionizing network data collection: AI and the opportunity ahead

The efficient and accurate collection of data is paramount in telecom but has historically been a challenge. Traditional methods often involve manual data entry, cumbersome paperwork, and the potential for errors, leading to challenges in data quality, currency, and operational efficiency. However, the emergence of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision, and augmented reality (AR) presents a transformative opportunity to revolutionize fiber network data collection processes. 

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Data integrity
• Digital transformation

Rethinking strategic reporting and data sharing throughout the enterprise

At its core, strategic reporting is the complex process of gathering and analyzing data pertaining to an organization's performance.¹ The resulting data, taken from different departments, is used to create a comprehensive overview of a business and its goals to aid leadership in making more calculated decisions.² For network operators, it helps drive plans regarding network expansions, budget allocation, operational processes, etc.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Employee spotlight

Employee spotlight: An interview with Thabet Mashlah

We recently sat down with Thabet Mashlah, our Regional Sales Manager for the MENA region, to discuss his journey in telecom, invaluable experiences, and the unique blend of skills he brings to the industry.