GIS mapping in telecoms explained

Since the 1990s, geographic information system (GIS) maps have played a central role in how the telecommunications industry plans and operates networks. GIS mapping provides enormous amounts of information that can be invaluable for firms. 

When companies first began using GIS mapping in telecommunications, it was truly revolutionary, replacing paper-based maps and confusing planning methods. And while it is now the ‘norm’ for telcos to use this tech, that doesn’t mean it is standing still. 

Some of the most advanced telecommunications firms are using increasingly sophisticated maps to overcome certain limitations, and improve their planning.  

In this article, we will cover:

• The fundamentals of GIS mapping
• The role of GIS mapping in telecommunications
• Current limitations of GIS for telecoms
• How advanced mapping solutions are leading the way

Refresher: what is GIS mapping?

A Geographic Information System is software that connects geospatial data with a map. It visually represents an area (from a city to the entire planet), displaying objects like buildings, roads, bridges, or natural features, allowing users to analyze relationships between these elements.

For example, an RF planner at a telecom firm might overlay a map of cell towers with population density data. By visualizing both on a single GIS  map, the field operations team could quickly identify underserved areas and plan new installations to improve coverage, thus optimizing network performance for high-demand regions.

Uses of GIS mapping in telecommunications

GIS enables telecoms firms to dramatically improve efficiency, planning and offer a better service to their customers. Here are some of the ways it is used. 

Planning infrastructure

• GIS maps grant RF planners more geospatial awareness with a detailed geospatial view of existing network assets, helping them choose optimal locations for new infrastructure. This includes:
• Physical landscape features (e.g., mountains, rivers, buildings, vegetation)
• Distance and height measurements between towers and receivers
• Settlement sizes and population density

These insights reduce the need for site visits, saving time and improving workflow for field teams, who can execute tasks more precisely.

Infrastructure Management and Maintenance:

GIS provides an up-to-date view of telecom infrastructure, capturing real-time data on performance, traffic, and hardware status. This “single source of truth” ensures better planning, reduces operational downtime, and streamlines maintenance.

Enhanced Customer Experience:

Integrating GIS mapping solutions into operations support systems (OSS) enables quick diagnostics in case of outages or service complaints. GIS maps can highlight potential issues, helping teams swiftly address disruptions and maintain service quality.

The evolution of GIS mapping

The use of GIS map tools has been transformative for the telecommunications industry over the past 30 years. Nevertheless, many telcos are starting to encounter problems with the established way of using GIS. There are a couple of key issues here. 

5G and next-gen technology

In traditional GIS mapping for telecommunications, radio frequency planners only needed low-resolution maps. This was because cell towers would send and receive signals over large areas - you didn’t need vast amounts of detail to be visible on the maps. 

However, the next generation of telecommunications technology (particularly mmWave 5G) requires far more detailed geospatial awareness. Signal propagation from these technologies is easily disrupted by buildings or even foliage. As a result, RF planners need much more information when deciding where to install equipment. 

Learn more: 7 practical challenges of 5G network deployment

Rapid urban development

Urban areas are expanding rapidly worldwide. Knowing where customers in new towns and neighborhoods are is essential to ensuring they have adequate access to communication networks. 

Unfortunately, many GIS maps contain outdated information about where people live and how urban areas are organized - which means infrastructure planning can fall short.

For example, building a new urban district might take just a couple of years. However, if a GIS map is five years old, that area may be represented as a blank field on the screen. As a consequence, people living there could be poorly served by telcos. 

Solutions for GIS mapping

To continue to benefit from GIS, the telecommunications industry will need to feed the software with more advanced, detailed, and up-to-date maps. 

At LuxCarta, we have been supporting RF planners in the telecoms industry for over 30 years. And we’re using the most advanced technology to provide the sector with ever more sophisticated data:

• 3D buildings and vegetation: Our maps use a combination of human expertise and artificial intelligence to automatically identify buildings and vegetation on satellite images, and extract them as a 3D, fully interactive vector. You can download this to your preferred GIS software, and use it to plan precise locations for infrastructure and identify line-of-sight obstacles. 

• Always up to date: Powered by cloud based technology, our map data is can be updated with the latest available satellite imagery. 

• Land use classification (clutter): Our maps identify a wide range of land use classes such as water, forest, villages, dense urban and much more). 

• Population maps (PopMaps): We also provide PopMaps using the most recent census data (and other sources when appropriate). 

GIS Mapping: A Vital Asset for Modern Telecom

For decades, GIS mapping has been indispensable to telecom firms, supporting planning, network efficiency, and management on a global scale. However, with advancements in technology and the complexities of 5G, traditional GIS solutions now require more sophistication.

Discover how LuxCarta’s advanced geodata solutions can enhance your GIS software with the latest, most insightful mapping data. Contact us for a demo today.

Want to see how our geodata solutions feed your GIS software with the most advanced, insightful maps? Contact us today for a demo.