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.
Understanding the Telecom Domain Network (TDN)
The TDN is a new industry-specific data model within Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network, designed to support fiber, coax, SCADA, and AMI systems.1 It brings the communications industry into the same structured framework already used by utilities like electric, gas, and water.
To put it simply: The TDN is a framework, not a product.
It defines how telecom assets connect and interact within the Utility Network environment, providing a standardized foundation for spatial data management, modeling, and analysis.
Esri describes the TDN as a “domain,” or a logical structure that defines how assets, devices, and connections are represented and maintained across an enterprise system.2
A domain does not replace existing models; it standardizes how data is exchanged within the Utility Network.
How TDN fits within the Utility Network
The TDN is one of several “domains” within the broader ArcGIS Utility Network. Electric, Gas, and Water domains already exist. The Telecom domain extends that same foundation to communications networks. Esri has indicated the TDN will be available in a future release of ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Pro.1 Once available, it will enable telecom data to coexist with other utility datasets, making it easier for organizations to manage diverse networks within a single environment.
For operators managing both fiber and electric or gas infrastructure, this means a unified view of assets and dependencies, backed by a consistent data model.
What the TDN means for 3-GIS users
For customers using 3-GIS | Web, there’s no disruption. Our telecom data model is modern, field-proven, and built to support the full lifecycle of network design and management. Organizations can continue using our existing model with confidence and adopt the TDN only if and when it aligns with their business objectives. Either way, 3-GIS | Web will provide a clear, supported path forward.
That means:
- No need to pause or delay your network modernization projects.
- No need to “wait” for the TDN to deploy 3-GIS | Web.
- No need to use the TDN if workflows don’t require it.
Full compatibility planning is already underway to ensure seamless support when Esri releases the TDN. The first phase of 3-GIS | Web support for TDN will focus on integration—allowing organizations to maintain shared data structures, leverage structure networks, and manage assets across multiple domains without sacrificing the performance or configurability that 3-GIS customers rely on today.
Why the TDN matters
The Telecom Domain Network (TDN) introduces a standardized approach for representing telecom networks within the ArcGIS Enterprise. It provides a framework designed to make data more consistent and interoperable across systems and organizations, addressing long-standing needs for better alignment between telecom and other utility assets.
For operators, this approach offers:
- Easier integration across systems and departments
- Consistent data governance and traceability
- A unified structure for representing network assets
- Stronger interoperability between telecom and utility systems
For many organizations, the TDN represents an additional way to structure and share telecom network data, providing flexibility to adopt new standards at their own pace.
What to do now
If you’re wondering whether to wait for the TDN before modernizing—don’t. The best move is to strengthen your network data today.
3-GIS | Web already provides architecture built to evolve alongside Esri’s roadmap. When the TDN becomes available, your system and data will be ready to take advantage of it.
We’ll continue sharing updates, best practices, and guidance as Esri’s development progresses.
Citations:
1 Mayo, Melissa, and Remi Myers. “Coming Soon: ArcGIS Utility Network Telecom Domain.” ArcGIS Blog, October 2, 2025. https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/utility-network/mapping/coming-soon-arcgis-utility-network-telecom-domain.
2 Mayo, Melissa, and Remi Myers. “There’s a New Domain Coming for the ArcGIS Utility Network—What Is a Domain Anyway?” ArcGIS Blog, October 9, 2025. https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/utility-network/data-management/theres-a-new-domain-coming-for-the-arcgis-utility-network-what-is-a-domain-anyway.
