Coming Soon: ArcGIS Utility Network Telecom Domain

Esri’s Latest Innovation for the Communications Industry 

We are excited to introduce new capabilities for the ArcGIS Utility Network: the Telecom Domain.  This new domain structure, currently released as a Beta product, has been created for the specialized needs of fiber systems. Communications datasets have very large volumes of features sharing common geometries. Examples of this would be fiber strands in a cable or ports in a router.  

This new set of features (and data structure) was designed to tackle challenges for some of the world’s largest datasets. In addition to supporting very large fiber-based networks, the Telecom Domain can be used for communication systems supporting Scada and AMI as well as smaller telecommunication networks. Additionally, this new domain is neither a replacement for the Communications Foundation Data Model, nor does it substitute existing utility networks developed under the existing traditional communications domain infrastructure. Instead, it is provided as another alternative to help customers model their fiber systems. Those utility networks will still be available and relevant. Telecom Domain is simply one more set of tools available to telecoms who need enhanced capabilities and functionality to manage their system.  

Customers Influenced the Telecom Domain  

We developed the Telecom Domain to integrate with the existing ArcGIS Utility Network features. This means telecom features currently in the utility network can be migrated to take advantage of these new tools. It is fully integrated with the ArcGIS Enterprise ecosystem, which allows users to have the full suite of ArcGIS capabilities at their fingertips. This is what the Telecom Domain is all about- empowering communications industries to fully utilize the revolutionary visualization and analytic tools that come with ArcGIS. 

The Telecom Domain was designed after months of research into the needs of the industry.  We evaluated the unique aspects of telecom networks to create a framework capable of handling the scale and complexity of all communication systems including fiber, coax, copper, wireless, and other configurations as well. Customer suggestions and input influenced the design and development of the Telecom Domain.  We listened to the needs and heard recommendations from the community, then implemented those into the software with the intent of providing functionality that would better meet the needs of our users. 

Telecom Domain Extends the Utility Network Experience 

For anyone with Utility Network experience, the Telecom Domain will have a familiar interface. However, it adds some important enhancements:

Enhancing the logical network through grouping

We can now group nonspatial elements, such as fibers in a cable or ports in a switch, making them easier to manage. This reduces the number of records being stored yet still provides full details when needed. 

New trace capabilities that meet requirements of the communication industry 

The Telecom Domain introduces new tracing tools designed for how telecom networks function. It provides support for virtual circuits, traces across disconnected service areas, and for inferring connectivity across devices. This helps to provide an interaction that is more reflective of a digital twin. 

Enhanced circuit management that better reflects real world configurations 

Circuits can be modeled by location, broken into subcircuits or sections, and managed as complete logical paths. Whether users are tracking fiber paths or managing backhaul, this makes it easier to see what is connected and how. 

The Intended Audience 

The Telecom Domain is intended for communication companies, the largest telecom providers, and utilities with fiber networks. It is particularly beneficial when managing fiber-to-the-home, metro networks, long-haul routes, or tracking thousands (or even millions) of fiber strands.

Additionally, it was designed to scale based on the needs of a given system. While the sizeable datasets typical of telecom systems were the inspiration for the designed enhancements, we want these capabilities to be useful for communications systems of various sizes. Whether a regional provider, a utility with broadband services, or an enterprise supporting private networks, the capabilities in this new model are applicable and relevant to your business. 

Availability 

The Telecom Domain will be released to users in two stages:

Beta 2 – December 2025
General Availability – June 2026 

If you are familiar with the Utility Network, please continue your work in the system. The work you are doing now will still translate to the Telecom Domain and the skills you are building will be applicable as you shift into the interface. While there are some new tools and a few different methods of doing certain elements with the new domain type, the overall interface of ArcGIS Utility Network will be the same.
 

Integrations with Our Partners 

Since December 2024, we have initiated an Early Adopter Program to help our partners and distributors build their knowledge of the network tools and functionality.  We have worked with participants this year as they have learned about the technical specifications and capabilities that have become available during the Beta release.  As the Telecom Domain was designed and developed, we took every effort to ensure existing capabilities, API’s, and SDK’s have not been changed from existing utility networks.  We will continue to communicate updates and changes as we navigate through the Beta phase, into Beta 2, and move into production in 2026. We look forward to hearing feedback from the user community along the way. 

Industry Implications 

The telecommunication industry is rapidly evolving; they are bigger, more complex, and play a significant role in today’s market.   In addition to supporting commercial and residential communication, fiber networks have become critical infrastructure to support most Smart Cities and utilities using remote devices and meters.  

The growth in this industry presents a number of new challenges; telecom companies can range from regional to global and want to model features at all scales.  When it comes to tracking line miles, studying trends in system performance, or even managing service territories that may not be connected, a robust set of tools is needed. This is where ArcGIS Utility Network’s Telecom Domain can enable better performance, scalability, and accuracy for your business needs.