Telecom and utilities news and perspectives

• Esri
• 3-GIS utilities solutions
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

Our top takeaways from Esri IMGIS 2025

The Esri Infrastructure Management & GIS Conference (IMGIS) brought together telecom, utility, and infrastructure professionals looking to build smarter, more connected networks.

For 3-GIS, this year marked a milestone. With the addition of our full utility product line, both telecom and utility teams came together under one roof for the first time. That shared presence reflected what’s happening across the industry as fiber and utility networks converge, facing the same challenges in data accuracy, field coordination, and system integration.

• Esri
• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

What is Esri’s Telecom Domain Network (TDN)?

When Esri introduced the Telecom Domain Network (TDN), it marked an important step forward for modeling communication networks within the ArcGIS Utility Network (commonly referred to as the UN). At the same time, it also raises new questions about how the TDN relates to existing fiber asset management systems, including 3-GIS | Web.

3-GIS has long worked within the Esri ecosystem to help telecom providers get the most from GIS technology. With the TDN emerging, we’re helping lead the conversation on what it means for the future of network management.

• Fiber network management
• Fiber network planning and design
• Fiber deployment
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

Making the most of duct space: Challenges and opportunities

When people talk about fiber networks, the spotlight usually goes to the cable itself. But ducts, the conduit that carries it all, may be the most undervalued asset in the ground. Managed well, they can speed up deployments, extend the life of infrastructure, and even open up new revenue streams through leasing. Managed poorly, they become a bottleneck that slows projects and inflates costs.

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies
• App modernization
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

Three reasons to rethink fiber outage response

The stakes are high for fiber service providers: contracts come with strict service-level agreements (SLAs), customer expectations around reliability are increasing, and the cost of delayed fault response, both in dollars and reputation, is growing. Fiber may be more resilient than copper, but it’s not immune to cuts, degradation, or equipment impacts.

But even with sophisticated systems in place, many operators are still relying on manual fault response workflows—waiting for alarms to stack up, dispatching trucks without a confirmed location, or hearing about issues from customers first.

It’s an approach that isn’t just inefficient—it’s costly too.

• Telecom technologies
• Fiber deployment
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

Clarity that connects: The power of real-time telecom network views

Whether rolling out networks to dense urban MDUs (multi-dwelling units) or extending the last mile to rural households, telcos are navigating a minefield of evolving infrastructure, tight delivery deadlines, and increasing demand for accelerated service turn-up. Amidst this whirlwind, one element stands out as a surprisingly pivotal force in keeping operations efficient and accurate: real-time network diagramming.

• Fiber network management
• Fiber network planning and design
• Telecom technologies
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

Planned Connections: Redefining how teams handle change in a live fiber management system

In fiber network operations, change is constant. Whether turning up a new customer, rerouting around a break, or expanding capacity, the underlying network data is always in motion. Planning those changes within fiber network management software helps ensure accuracy, visibility, and alignment across teams—but executing them without disrupting the live operational environment presents an entirely different challenge for network operators: the need to understand both what’s currently installed and what changes are planned.

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

How GIS transforms fiber proposals - Part 2: Maximizing success with network asset visibility

Valuable fiber assets often sit unused while providers build costly new infrastructure alongside them. Why? Because many providers simply can't see what they already have.

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies
• Fiber deployment
• 3-GIS telecom solutions

How fiber mapping software cuts costs – Part 2: Unlocking savings with 3-GIS

In Part 1 of this series, we explored how fiber mapping software can optimize both CapEx and OpEx by improving accuracy, streamlining operations, and reducing unnecessary expenses. Now, let’s take a closer look at how 3-GIS software and services specifically address these challenges—helping network operators accelerate deployment, minimize costs, and maximize returns.