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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Navigating the network lifecycle: Field verification
Sep 15, 2023 4:46:07 PM
  • Fiber network management
  • GIS
  • Communications service providers
  • Fiber deployment

Navigating the network lifecycle: Field verification

The network lifecycle is a complex and interconnected process, with each step building upon the previous one. We've explored the planning and engineering phases, uncovering the challenges and strategies involved in our endeavor to support The West Coast Company (WCC) in their nationwide fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) buildout. Now it's time to dive into field verification.

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Navigating the network lifecycle: Engineering
Sep 5, 2023 3:19:28 PM
  • Fiber network management
  • GIS
  • Communications service providers
  • Fiber deployment

Navigating the network lifecycle: Engineering

Welcome to part three of our blog series detailing the highs and lows of the network lifecycle. In the first installment, I shared my experiences supporting a nationwide fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) buildout with the West Coast Company (WCC). While, in the second installment, I dove into the significance of strategic planning. 

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Navigating the network lifecycle: Planning
Aug 4, 2023 4:35:08 PM
  • Fiber network management
  • GIS
  • Communications service providers
  • Fiber deployment

Navigating the network lifecycle: Planning

Welcome back to our blog series on the journey of building fiber networks from the ground up. In the first installment, I shared the whirlwind beginning of our endeavor to support The West Coast Company (WCC) in their nationwide fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) buildout. Today, we delve into a critical phase of the network lifecycle: planning.

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Navigating the network lifecycle: An introduction
Jul 21, 2023 5:24:42 PM
  • Fiber network management
  • GIS
  • Communications service providers

Navigating the network lifecycle: An introduction

For those of you that have been in the telecom industry for some time, the following story will more than likely resonate with your own experience. I was introduced to 3-GIS through one of its owners, Tom Counts, and was intrigued with the niche that they had built for themselves specifically in the fiber market. 

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Shift in GIS technology: Reimagining the transactional model
Jul 7, 2023 10:23:53 AM
  • Fiber network management
  • Telecom technologies
  • GIS
  • Communications service providers

Shift in GIS technology: Reimagining the transactional model

If you work for a telco and have needed to track your network assets in a centralized way, you may have used Ericsson Network Engineer (ENE) or similar software solution. ENE and many other solutions that rely on Esri technology use geodatabase versioning technology to manage transactions. Versioning facilitates long transactions by allowing editors to work isolated within their own version of the geodatabase and across multiple editing sessions.

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Here are some ways GIS data benefits the entire enterprise.
Jun 9, 2023 10:13:29 AM
  • Fiber network management
  • Telecom technologies
  • GIS
  • Communications service providers

How telcos use GIS-based network management systems

To be competitive in the telecommunications landscape today providers rely on workflow processes and systems that integrate information across the company to support running the business efficiently. A GIS-based network management system provides telecommunication providers with many key benefits in this ever-changing industry. The GIS system allows providers to build a digital replica of the physical connected network to support all aspects of the business including operations, planning, engineering, provisioning, sales, marketing, and finance. This digital replica of the network enables collaboration across departments providing timely and fact-based information to support better decision making on financial investments, reducing operational costs, and improving customer satisfaction. 

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How should CSPs approach telecom network management modernization in the face of system obsolescence?
Jan 5, 2023 3:22:09 PM
Article Article
  • Fiber network management
  • Telecom technologies
  • GIS
  • App modernization
  • Communications service providers

Shifting OSP network management in the face of system obsolescence

I started my career supporting utilities and their GIS programs, specifically migrating their legacy CAD-based technologies to the latest in Esri-based GIS platforms.  Interestingly, a successful migration was not necessarily predicated on a better user experience; but rather, success was measured by the vision and commitment of the customer to change.  They knew, for instance, that user adoption would be a slow and painful process and that efficiencies gained would be measured by the operational impact, as opposed to the individual user experience.  Enabling the larger organization with the data it needed to make clear and concise decisions was going to be critical in either maintaining a competitive advantage or, for the public utility, delivering quality services at an affordable price. While this change has not been easy, GIS-based technologies are now a critical component to most if not all utilities around the globe. 

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Feb 10, 2022 3:48:54 PM
Article Article
  • Fiber network construction
  • Internet service
  • RDOF
  • Communications service providers

Got broadband funding? Now what?

Have you received or considered applying for public funding to complete your broadband buildout? Governments across the globe are allocating more resources than ever before to increase the availability of high-speed internet access in underserved areas. In November 2021, the United States Federal Government passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocating $65 billion1 toward the expansion and affordability of broadband coverage to aid in closing the digital divide–the largest sum set aside by the government for internet improvement initiatives in the country to date.

The passing of IIJA and similar funding initiatives have opened up space for additional opportunities in both the private and public sectors. In response, numerous proposals have been submitted in an effort to add sources of revenue or diversify offerings. However, with various avenues to achieve coverage objectives, newcomers may find themselves unsure of where to begin. Below are four considerations before starting on your grant-funded broadband projects.

 

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