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.

Hero icon

FILTER

Choose area

Blog | Planned Connections: Redefining how teams handle change in a live fiber management system
May 19, 2025 5:00:00 PM
  • Fiber network management
  • Telecom technologies
  • 3-GIS | Web
  • Fiber network planning

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.

Read More
Along the Path newsletter
Jan 13, 2025 2:00:00 PM
  • Fiber network management
  • Press
  • 3-GIS | Web
  • Fiber network planning

Along the Path: How can we produce insight-driven designs?

Welcome to the first edition of Along the Path for 2025! This quarter, we’re exploring how 3-GIS | Web helps you design smarter, more efficient fiber networks. From managing the finer details to scaling your operations for ambitious goals, discover how insight-powered design strategies can help you tackle tough challenges and keep your projects moving forward with confidence.

Read More
Precision planning: The new foundation for fiber deployment success
Dec 16, 2024 5:00:00 PM
  • Fiber network management
  • Communications service providers
  • Fiber network planning

Precision planning: The new foundation for fiber deployment success

Imagine planning a city-wide fiber network rollout. Countless decisions about routes, equipment placement, and infrastructure requirements must be made with precision —the complexity is staggering. In tackling these challenges, telecom companies often turn to innovative solutions like asset management systems and geographic information systems (GIS) to streamline their decision-making and improve outcomes. However, success doesn’t come down to a single tool—it’s about choosing the right approach to solve the problem at hand.

Read More
Blog: How 3-GIS | Web makes fiber network connectivity modeling easier
Oct 28, 2024 2:30:00 PM
  • Fiber network management
  • Fiber network design and automation
  • 3-GIS | Web
  • Fiber network planning

Making fiber network connectivity modeling easier

Connectivity modeling, or ensuring that fiber strands, splices, and equipment accurately mirror real-world configurations, is fundamental to fiber network management. In a recent poll conducted by 3-GIS, 40% of respondents answered that making logical connections and splicing consumed most of their time when it comes to network modeling.* Though challenging, streamlining this process is possible. Let’s explore a few ways to do so using 3-GIS | Web.

Read More
Blog: Decoding customer needs with GIS
Oct 21, 2024 5:00:00 PM
  • Fiber network management
  • Telecom technologies
  • Communications service providers
  • Fiber network planning

Decoding customer needs with GIS

Data, data, data. We are all about data. It is the foundation of today's telco world, from where to deploy next to how to serve our customers best. We know telecommunications companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to make their data more actionable. Enter GIS (or Geographic Information System). The GIS market in telecommunications is booming, with revenues expected to grow from $1.56 billion in 2021 to $4.48 billion by 2030.1 This exponential growth underscores the transformative impact of GIS on the industry.

Read More
Blog | No more versioning?
Aug 5, 2024 6:00:00 PM
  • 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.

Read More
Collecting railroad crossing information for fiber planning
Apr 1, 2024 8:00:00 AM
  • 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.

Read More
  • 6766 S. Revere Parkway, Suite 100
  • Centennial, CO 80112
  • United States
  • +1 720.279.9894