VIAVI Solutions and leading fiber optic network design management software provider 3-GIS announced today the establishment of a partnership to jointly provide enterprises with faster and more accurate fiber optic fault location solutions, while fully utilizing customers’ existing geographic information system (GIS) investments. This integration solution has been deployed at Windstream Wholesale, automating existing manual processes and providing significant advantages in improving network maintenance, reducing downtime, increasing revenue, and lowering costs. VIAVI, 3-GIS, and Windstream will discuss this joint solution and its benefits for customers at a webinar hosted by the Fiber Broadband Association on June 12, 2025.

With the increasing deployment of fiber optics in transmission networks, data centers, enterprise and home broadband, the demand for advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence/machine learning and high-performance computing is also rapidly growing. Fiber optic network construction is costly and time-consuming, and even slight performance degradation can have a significant impact on end-user experience, making fault identification and resolution a key factor in the financial performance of network operators.

VIAVI and 3-GIS integrate the VIAVI ONMSi Remote Fiber Optic Testing System (RFTS) with the powerful geospatial capabilities of 3-GIS, accelerating problem identification and resolution for network technicians during operation and maintenance. This integration solution has been successfully implemented as part of the Windstream Wholesale Intelligent Integrated Optical Network (ICON).

This solution is designed for rapid deployment on existing fiber optic cables and can instantly detect complete or partial fiber breakage faults, allowing companies such as Windstream Wholesale to take action before dark fiber customers discover faults. By dispatching the correct technicians and testing equipment for the first time, a significant reduction in maintenance time has also been achieved. In addition, this integration solution enables Windstream Wholesale to directly associate alerts with specific customer services, thereby proactively notifying customers of the measures taken before they report any issues.

The combination of ONMSi and 3-GIS provides technicians with a single source of information, eliminates data conflicts from different sources, speeds up fault resolution, and simplifies maintenance and repair operations.

Russell Taws, Director of Fiber and Access Solutions at VIAVI, said, “Fiber network technicians face enormous pressure to efficiently deploy and maintain high-speed networks while minimizing downtime. Quickly identifying and resolving faults is crucial to ensuring reliable service to end customers. We are pleased to collaborate with industry leader 3-GIS to provide advanced fault identification and localization solutions, providing technicians with accurate real-time insights, accelerating problem resolution, reducing unnecessary troubleshooting, and ultimately providing a seamless connectivity experience. ”

Dustin Sutton, Chief Marketing Officer of 3-GIS, stated that this collaboration is a strong combination of VIAVI diagnostic accuracy and 3-GIS geospatial intelligence. Bringing transformative results to customers: faster and automated fault resolution, directly translated into less downtime, optimized on-site operations, and stronger SLA performance. We not only help service providers maintain their networks more efficiently, but also strengthen their reputation for reliability and maximize the strategic value of their 3-GIS platform. ”

Windstream Wholesale Engineering Director Glen Grochowski said, “The integration of VIAVI and 3-GIS systems enables complete automation of manual processes. This enables us to automate fiber optic fault detection, simplify fault response, accelerate technical personnel scheduling, and reduce operating costs and service downtime. ”

Through this collaboration, service providers can improve the speed and accuracy of fault location while fully utilizing existing GIS investments, ultimately improving network operations and customer satisfaction.