News and perspectives from the world of fiber optic networking

• 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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• 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. 

• Fiber network design and automation
• Telecom technologies
• As-built

Is CAD the answer to telecom design?

Whether it be through new inventions, technological advancements, more efficient processes, or simply finding better and easier ways to do things, the way we work is evolving. In the power industry, we have evolved to create smart grid technology to understand the real-time needs of the network. In the telecommunications industry, we have evolved through hardware advancements to produce faster bandwidth capabilities and, by using artificial intelligence, anticipate and proactively address potential outage locations before the end user is impacted. The planning, designing, and documenting of these networks is also evolving to allow further access and knowledge of the networks that we deploy. As we deploy the advanced networks that are being constructed today, the management of these networks requires a different level of access and information.

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• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies
• GIS
• Podcast

The value of GIS in the telecom enterprise

Telecommunications is one of the fastest-growing GIS markets in the world.  So fast, in fact, it has a forecasted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.0% from 2021-2026. A large part of this growth is due to the need for stakeholders to understand the network structure on a near real-time basis.

• Fiber network construction
• Fiber network design and automation
• Telecom technologies

Unleashing the power of configuration

Streamlined, efficient business operations is a top goal for telecom organizations around the world. Effective network management systems  fit your unique business environment and allow your team to get up and running quickly, reduce swivel-chair turns, eliminate bandaid workarounds, and decrease operational delays. The key to reaping these benefits? Using your configuration control to unleash the power of the application.

We sat down with Greg Connors, now Technical Product Manager at 3-GIS, but former Technical Lead at Level 3 Communications and longtime GIS specialist, to ask him about his experience with different systems with varying degrees of configurability. Check out what Greg has to say:

• Fiber network construction
• Fiber network design and automation
• Telecom technologies

Using automation to uplevel the accuracy & speed of network deployment

The increasing pace of developing new network technologies means that network providers, managers, and engineers need to document and manage new and complex information, but methods for meeting these needs have yet to be addressed in most existing network management systems. 3-GIS takes the next step in physical network management providing solutions that create and maintain high veracity OSP data that can be leveraged throughout the service providers’ business and operational ecosystems.

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• Esri
• Telecom technologies

Esri UC 2020: What we (verb)ed

Last week many of our team members attended the virtual Esri User Conference. In an effort to spread the wealth of knowledge, and frankly, to see how well everyone adjusted to an all virtual conference, we asked them to let us know about their experience at the sessions they attended and the conference as a whole. Check out a few of their favorite findings, remaining questions, and curiosities below:

• Fiber network management
• Fiber network design and automation
• Telecom technologies

Enabling network deployment at velocity: GIS more than network mapping

The year was 1994 and at the time I had visions of saving the planet. I was determined to enter into an environmental profession and my Alma Mater had only one program that resonated, Environment Science and GIS. As I progressed through the program I learned to not only understand the meaning of GIS but also began to appreciate the power of the technology. After graduating, I worked with an environment engineering firm evaluating the efficacy of GIS technology for business providing utility services. It was the utility companies that were migrating networks consisting of water, gas and electric from CAD based solutions to GIS based solutions.