If you’re in the telecommunications industry, you know that expanding fiber networks is a fundamental requirement for delivering fast and reliable internet to underserved areas. But, let’s be candid for a moment, it’s not exactly an easy task. To do so in today’s marketplace requires a ton of planning, competitive bidding, and a need to execute these projects while digging through a ton of data and making decisions on the fly. Adding to the workload are legacy workflows and business systems that hinder a team’s capability and delay buildouts. Thankfully, the capabilities of today’s technologies allow organizations to deliver truly impactful digital transformation by delivering streamlined workflows and simplified understanding via intuitive tools.
Recently I was privileged to get to see an exciting new tool by CommSoft, COMPASS AI. As a former planning and design manager in the cable industry, I know the impact a tool and resources have on a team’s ability to plan and design networks. So today, I thought I’d share what I love about COMPASS AI. Simply put, it’s built with the power of AI (artificial intelligence) and GIS (geographic information systems), and it helps telecom companies streamline the planning process. Today, I want to talk a bit about how I think COMPASS AI can help accelerate fiber network expansion, make smarter build-out decisions, and turn data into business insights.
Accelerate Fiber Network Expansion
When it comes to expanding a fiber network, the amount of data teams need to process in order to do their task at hand is mind-blowing. They need to figure out where to build, how much it’s going to cost, what consumer demand looks like in those areas, what the risks are and permitting needs, and when will it be completed. At Esri, our telecom team regularly hears from customers that doing all of this manually takes way too much time and leaves too much room for unintended errors. That’s where the capabilities of AI and GIS really save the day.
If you’re unfamiliar with AI, simply put, know it is great at sorting through massive datasets. So, for service providers, whether it’s population statistics, existing infrastructure, cost projections, return on investment, capacity metrics, or countless other data sets, it can simplify all this info and make it manageable. That said, it’s not enough just to have a pile of curated data. You need to be able to see it and share it in a meaningful way, and that’s where GIS technology comes in. Esri GIS tools like ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Dashboards, and ArcGIS WebApps, can take all that data and not only put it on a map, but give teams a visualized and contextualized representation of their area.
What I love is that when organizations combine AI’s data crunching capabilities with GIS’s analytical and mapping power, they can spot potential expansion areas far faster than they could using traditional methods. When it comes to COMPASS AI, I like how it pulls everything into one place, showing teams clear maps with all the data they need to make decisions quickly and accurately. In my experience, I see this as a huge time-saver, and it will help organizations avoid costly mistakes.
Deep Insight Delivers a Better Build-Out Strategy
Now, when it comes to modern network management, expanding a fiber network isn’t just about running fibers and making connections. It’s also about knowing how efficient your existing network is performing. Without a clear picture of what you’re working with and a clear understanding of need, service providers might end up expanding into areas where the network won’t perform as well as desired or where the new-build costs outweigh any return on investment. I believe this is where COMPASS AI comes in.
In looking at the tool, I believe it can provide deep insights into the efficiency of an organization’s current network. This is key in making smart build-out decisions. COMPASS AI can help teams figure out if certain parts of their network are underutilized or possibly even overloaded, allowing them to focus on improving those areas before they start expanding.
By fixing any weak spots in their existing network, organizations set themselves up for a smoother and more cost-effective network expansion. Additionally, when it comes to applying for grants or funding, I believe when service providers can show state and local government agencies that they’ve already improved what they have, it gives them a competitive advantage over other bidders. After all, states want to ensure their decision to provide funds is made wisely and that the funding will have the best possible impact on the community.
Transform Geospatial Data into Business Intelligence
When it comes to planning and design of networks, system maps are great for planning, but I like how COMPASS.AI takes things a step further by turning geospatial network data into comprehensive business intelligence. This isn’t just about seeing where to lay fiber, it’s about using that data to make informed decisions. In looking at COMPASS.AI, I appreciate that it’s not just looking at network system maps, it’s showing users things like potential revenue, customer density, and competitive analysis all in one place.
For example, when planning a new network expansion, a user can tell how many customers live in a certain area, what the ROI could be, and whether other providers are already servicing that region. This gives us a full picture of not just where to expand, but whether it’s even worth expanding into that area from a business perspective. By integrating GIS capabilities to overlay business data onto geographic maps, COMPASS.AI helps teams make smarter decisions about where to invest their precious and finite resources. In the end, service providers are not just focused on building networks, they need to build profitable ones.
Turning a Map into an Income Statement
Here’s one of the coolest things I liked about COMPASS.AI, it literally transforms a network map into an income statement. Traditionally, during the planning cycle network maps have been used to determine where and how to build infrastructure, but with COMPASS.AI, teams now have a financial view of each potential project. For instance, when they’re looking at a map of a possible build site, COMPASS.AI will show them not just the network layout but also the projected costs, potential revenue, and long-term ROI for the build. This turns what used to be a purely logistical new-build design tool into a business planning resource.
I believe this gives organizations a great way to evaluate different areas not just based on geography, but on whether they build makes financial sense. Imagine being able to see at a glance how much money an expansion could make before even starting to build. That’s the power of leveraging AI and GIS to transform maps into income statements, and it’s what organizations need for success in today’s marketplace.
Wrapping It Up
As I said before, expanding fiber networks is no small task. However, I think with tools like COMPASS.AI from CommSoft, powered by Esri’s GIS technology, organizations can streamline the planning and design process and make smarter decisions much faster. From quickly identifying expansion opportunities, to understanding network efficiency, and turning maps into business intelligence, I believe COMPASS.AI is a great asset for organizations.
By combining data analysis with mapping and financial insights, COMPASS.AI doesn’t just help service providers expand networks faster, it helps them do it smarter. Whether you’re going after underserved rural areas or scaling up in urban markets, I believe this tool ensures that every decision you make is backed by data and built to maximize our return on investment.
Further Resources:
Learn more about CommSoft’s partnership with Esri
Learn more about Esri in Telecommunications
