6 answers
limman
Student
Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan
1
Question
Updated
970 views
What careers can I pursue if I’m interested in GIS and telecommunications?
Hi everyone,
I’m really interested in how technology connects people, especially through GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and telecommunications. I’ve heard about tools like Utility Network being used for managing fiber networks and broadband infrastructure, but I’m not sure what types of jobs or career paths are available in this field.
Could someone share:
What roles exist at the intersection of GIS and telecom?
What skills (technical or soft) are most important to build now?
Do companies in telecom actually hire GIS professionals, or is it more of a niche?
I’d love some advice so I know where to focus my studies and internships.
Thanks so much!
— Daniella
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6 answers
Jacqui Khan
lawyer
2
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Jacqui’s Answer
GIS knowledge is a good general skill. However, limiting focus to that could be career limiting and a broader concentration on general network engineering and practical and technical telco skills.
What roles exist at the intersection of GIS and telecom?
- Network Engineering
- Capacity Planning & Management
- Data Centre Management
- Sales (of telecommunications equip, software, capacity and infrastructure)
- Tech. Infrastructure development project management, in general
- Software architects/engineers/solutions
- Submarine/undersea internet cables/global connectivity infrastructures
- Lawyer
- Government/planners (national, local)
- Civil engineering
What skills (technical or soft) are most important to build now?
- Explain network in plain-speak/non-technical language
- Supply/demand, procurement and pricing
- Being curious about old technologies adaptations in the face of new technologies
Do companies in telecom actually hire GIS professionals, or is it more of a niche?
GIS is a complementary knowledge base and skill. Both telecom and tech companies hire many professionals with the title listed above, and new roles are being generated all the time with changing tech. Many tech companies rely on the network of telecommunications networks of telcos for the delivery of their products and services. The emergence of AI technology will rely heavily on telecommunication infrastructure development, including data centres and the networks connection the same.
Best of luck to you and this is a great, interesting and solid and sustainable career to be exploring.
Check out: www.gisci.org, for GIS certifications
AWS have free-online software development and other educational resources/courses you might want to check-out
What roles exist at the intersection of GIS and telecom?
- Network Engineering
- Capacity Planning & Management
- Data Centre Management
- Sales (of telecommunications equip, software, capacity and infrastructure)
- Tech. Infrastructure development project management, in general
- Software architects/engineers/solutions
- Submarine/undersea internet cables/global connectivity infrastructures
- Lawyer
- Government/planners (national, local)
- Civil engineering
What skills (technical or soft) are most important to build now?
- Explain network in plain-speak/non-technical language
- Supply/demand, procurement and pricing
- Being curious about old technologies adaptations in the face of new technologies
Do companies in telecom actually hire GIS professionals, or is it more of a niche?
GIS is a complementary knowledge base and skill. Both telecom and tech companies hire many professionals with the title listed above, and new roles are being generated all the time with changing tech. Many tech companies rely on the network of telecommunications networks of telcos for the delivery of their products and services. The emergence of AI technology will rely heavily on telecommunication infrastructure development, including data centres and the networks connection the same.
Best of luck to you and this is a great, interesting and solid and sustainable career to be exploring.
Jacqui recommends the following next steps:
Cung Nguyen
59
Answers
Updated
Cung’s Answer
Telecommunication is a vast and exciting field. Many telecom engineers have backgrounds in Electrical, Electronics, Wireless, and Computer Engineering. Companies are eager to hire students who understand both hardware and software. If you're interested in GIS, there are great opportunities in local and state governments, where many GIS professionals are needed for urban planning and other projects. The federal government also seeks individuals with GIS expertise. Both Telecom and GIS offer fantastic career paths where you can keep learning and growing. Once you find a position, you'll be on a journey of continuous development and success.
Donna Hull
Engineer
100
Answers
Columbia
Updated
Donna’s Answer
Limman;
Telecommunications is center to everyone's lives these days and there are several paths you can take. So it really depends on what your passions are:
If you are truly interested in the hardscape of telecommunications. Placing of fiber optics or satellite communications, then you may want to look into Internships with the top telecommunications providers in the World: ATT, Verizon, Orange, etc... check into each companies intern programs
Closer to home, it looks like Jazz, Ufone, and Zong cover both wireless and data communications technologies.
On the soft side, security of the network is one of the largest challenges. So Cyber Security could lead you down many telecommunications activities also.
Telecommunications is center to everyone's lives these days and there are several paths you can take. So it really depends on what your passions are:
If you are truly interested in the hardscape of telecommunications. Placing of fiber optics or satellite communications, then you may want to look into Internships with the top telecommunications providers in the World: ATT, Verizon, Orange, etc... check into each companies intern programs
Closer to home, it looks like Jazz, Ufone, and Zong cover both wireless and data communications technologies.
On the soft side, security of the network is one of the largest challenges. So Cyber Security could lead you down many telecommunications activities also.
James Constantine Frangos
SOFTWARE ENGINEER SINCE 1972; NUTRITIONIST SINCE 1976.
7094
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Limman,
Here are some actionable roles at the intersection of GIS and telecom:
1. Network Planning: Use GIS to analyze geographic data and find the best spots for telecom infrastructure like towers and base stations. This ensures good coverage and capacity.
2. Asset Management: Use GIS for real-time data on telecom infrastructure performance. This helps in planning and maintaining assets efficiently.
3. Customer Experience: Use GIS data to find underserved areas and plan new installations. This improves network performance and customer satisfaction.
4. Market Analysis: Use GIS to understand market trends, find new opportunities, and optimize network investments.
Key Skills Needed:
- Technical Skills: Be proficient in GIS software, data analysis, and geospatial data visualization. These skills help in creating accurate maps and making informed decisions.
- Soft Skills: Develop strong communication, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities. These skills help in collaborating with teams and explaining complex data to stakeholders.
As the telecom industry grows, the need for these skills will increase. By combining technical know-how with critical thinking and clear communication, you can drive innovation in this field.
For more information, check out these resources:
- Magnasoft Blog on Telecom GIS
- Intellias on Geospatial Data in Telecom
- LuxCarta on GIS Mapping
- Morning Lif on GIS in Telecom Network Planning
Take care!
Here are some actionable roles at the intersection of GIS and telecom:
1. Network Planning: Use GIS to analyze geographic data and find the best spots for telecom infrastructure like towers and base stations. This ensures good coverage and capacity.
2. Asset Management: Use GIS for real-time data on telecom infrastructure performance. This helps in planning and maintaining assets efficiently.
3. Customer Experience: Use GIS data to find underserved areas and plan new installations. This improves network performance and customer satisfaction.
4. Market Analysis: Use GIS to understand market trends, find new opportunities, and optimize network investments.
Key Skills Needed:
- Technical Skills: Be proficient in GIS software, data analysis, and geospatial data visualization. These skills help in creating accurate maps and making informed decisions.
- Soft Skills: Develop strong communication, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities. These skills help in collaborating with teams and explaining complex data to stakeholders.
As the telecom industry grows, the need for these skills will increase. By combining technical know-how with critical thinking and clear communication, you can drive innovation in this field.
For more information, check out these resources:
- Magnasoft Blog on Telecom GIS
- Intellias on Geospatial Data in Telecom
- LuxCarta on GIS Mapping
- Morning Lif on GIS in Telecom Network Planning
Take care!
Jacqui Khan
lawyer
2
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Jacqui’s Answer
GIS knowledge is a good general skill. However, limiting focus to that could be career limiting and a broader concentration on general network engineering and practical and technical telco skills.
What roles exist at the intersection of GIS and telecom?
- Network Engineering
- Capacity Planning & Management
- Data Centre Management
- Sales of telecommunications capacity and infrastructure
- Tech. Infrastructure Development in general
- Soft architects/engineers/solutions
- Submarine/undersea internet cables/global connectivity infrastructures
- Lawyer
- Government/planners (national, local)
- Civil engineering
What skills (technical or soft) are most important to build now?
- Explain network in plain-speak/non-technical language
- Supply/demand, procurement and pricing
- Being curious about old technologies adaptations in the face of new technologies
Do companies in telecom actually hire GIS professionals, or is it more of a niche?
GIS is a complementary knowledge base and skill. Both telecom and tech companies hire many professionals with the title listed above, and new roles are being generated all the time with changing tech. Many tech companies rely on the network of telecommunications networks of telcos for the delivery of their products and services. The emergence of AI technology will rely heavily on telecommunication infrastructure development, including data centres and the networks connection the same.
Best of luck to you and this is a great, interesting and solid and sustainable career to be exploring.
Check out: www.gisci.org, for GIS certifications
AWS have free-online
What roles exist at the intersection of GIS and telecom?
- Network Engineering
- Capacity Planning & Management
- Data Centre Management
- Sales of telecommunications capacity and infrastructure
- Tech. Infrastructure Development in general
- Soft architects/engineers/solutions
- Submarine/undersea internet cables/global connectivity infrastructures
- Lawyer
- Government/planners (national, local)
- Civil engineering
What skills (technical or soft) are most important to build now?
- Explain network in plain-speak/non-technical language
- Supply/demand, procurement and pricing
- Being curious about old technologies adaptations in the face of new technologies
Do companies in telecom actually hire GIS professionals, or is it more of a niche?
GIS is a complementary knowledge base and skill. Both telecom and tech companies hire many professionals with the title listed above, and new roles are being generated all the time with changing tech. Many tech companies rely on the network of telecommunications networks of telcos for the delivery of their products and services. The emergence of AI technology will rely heavily on telecommunication infrastructure development, including data centres and the networks connection the same.
Best of luck to you and this is a great, interesting and solid and sustainable career to be exploring.
Jacqui recommends the following next steps:
This is good advice, for the Network Engineer portion of it (in Telecommunications) you can become an OSPE - Outside Plant Engineer, and I'd also add some drafting skills to your training that would help benefit you there too. There are a couple of decent programs out there for this like: Bentley MicroStation, AutoCAD, Autodesk, and ARAMIS to name a few.
Shane Wood
Ronald Glenn Hastings
Telecommunications Engineer
3
Answers
Shelbyville, Tennessee
Updated
Ronald Glenn’s Answer
Limman,
It is great to hear that you are very interested in GIS. The answers above are very good. I want to provide you with a bit of a different look at GIS. I am a Solutions Architect/Sales Engineer in the telecomm arena. GIS tools are a very important aspect of my role, as it is utilized to determine fiber coverage, wireless coverage, etc for my customers and prospects. With that being said, GIS applications will be front of mind for a while, and there will be opportunities in supporting them. If you pivot to be a power user of GIS applications, then you will open up your opportunities, many of which are outlined in other answers. Good luck on your future pursuits!
It is great to hear that you are very interested in GIS. The answers above are very good. I want to provide you with a bit of a different look at GIS. I am a Solutions Architect/Sales Engineer in the telecomm arena. GIS tools are a very important aspect of my role, as it is utilized to determine fiber coverage, wireless coverage, etc for my customers and prospects. With that being said, GIS applications will be front of mind for a while, and there will be opportunities in supporting them. If you pivot to be a power user of GIS applications, then you will open up your opportunities, many of which are outlined in other answers. Good luck on your future pursuits!