In 2014, the Sultanate of Oman set out to reshape its digital future with the establishment of Oman Broadband Company. Tasked with the ambitious mission of delivering high-speed, affordable internet to communities across the nation, the company quickly became a cornerstone of Oman’s telecommunications transformation. But as the network expanded, the challenges of scaling and managing such a vast infrastructure began to surface.
By 2024, Oman Broadband achieved remarkable milestones—bringing fiber coverage to nearly a million premises and connecting over 300,000 active subscribers. Yet, beneath this success lay a pressing question: Could the systems and processes that had fueled its early growth sustain its vision of 95 percent urban broadband coverage by 2030?
To continue building a connected Oman, staff needed to rethink the company’s approach to network management.
Oman Broadband turned to 3-GIS, an Esri partner known for its GIS-based telecom solutions, to develop tools to both streamline operations and prepare for future challenges. The result of this partnership is 3-GIS | Web, a cloud-based platform powered by ArcGIS Enterprise that allowed Oman Broadband to vastly improve its network management.
The Tipping Point
Oman Broadband’s existing technology was struggling to keep pace with the demands of modern network operations. Data processing took days to complete, manual workflows slowed project timelines, and limited field connectivity posed significant risks to efficiency. For the company’s leadership, it became clear that transformation wasn’t just an option—it was a necessity.
In 2020, Oman Broadband began searching for an updated management solution to optimize the company’s fiber network management strategy. With years of experience leveraging Esri software and a dedicated GIS team supporting the entire organization, the company aimed to stay within the ArcGIS ecosystem. Oman Broadband’s previous development of mobile viewer apps and dashboards to track progress had already proved that ArcGIS technology was central to the company’s operations.
The partnership with 3-GIS and the development of 3-GIS | Web marked a turning point for Oman Broadband’s efforts. Designed for usability, the platform introduced advanced GIS editing capabilities and detailed light path tracing, enabling engineers to trace any fiber in the network directly from the map. This streamlined process not only accelerated issue resolution but also enhanced customer service standards.
Beyond fiber tracing, 3-GIS | Web’s diagramming tools empower engineers to handle complex network layouts with ease, converting intricate designs into actionable projects. The platform has also transformed network utilization analysis. Tasks like determining the usage of splices and cabinets, which once took four hours, now require only minutes, freeing up valuable time for other priorities.
Data loading processes have also seen dramatic improvements. Loading fiber-to-the-home project data, which previously took 10 days, now takes just eight minutes. This efficiency allows Oman Broadband to connect over 400 new customers daily, significantly accelerating broadband deployment timelines and driving revenue growth.
3-GIS’s efforts have also extended beyond office users. Site engineers, once constrained by limited tools, now leverage 3-GIS | Mobile to trace fiber connectivity with speed and accuracy—capabilities previously restricted to office systems. Contractors at Oman Broadband can access critical network data on the go, ensuring efficiency in tasks like updating network information and managing assets in real time.
Oman Broadband has also introduced a transformative shift in processes by enabling contractors to document customer connections directly on-site. This automation streamlines the last-mile connectivity process, enhancing both the speed and quality of service—from the moment a customer places an order to final service activation. The integration of 3-GIS technology with the company’s business support system ensures every customer request is processed with precision, enabling timely and accurate installations.
Scaling for the Future
Behind the scenes, 3-GIS | Web has expanded access to critical network data, replacing a system that supported just 30 users with one that now serves over 300. Engineers, contractors, and decision-makers all benefit from centralized, accurate data that enhances operations at every stage. Advanced features like automated task management and signal tracing have become indispensable, enabling teams to work smarter and faster.
Today, partly due to the increase in efficiency, Oman Broadband’s operations have been modernized, strengthening the company’s position as a regional leader in digital transformation. Looking ahead, Oman Broadband plans to leverage GIS technology to anticipate network maintenance needs, optimize resource allocation, and enhance customer satisfaction.
For telecom professionals, Oman Broadband’s journey speaks powerfully to the potential of GIS for network management. By embracing cutting-edge solutions and reimagining traditional workflows, even the most complex fiber networks can be navigated with the right tools and a clear vision.
About the authors
Ashlee Hornbuckle
