Open fibre data

0.3.0 release

Welcome to the Open Fibre Data Standard 0.3.0 release.

We want to hear your feedback on the standard and its documentation. For general feedback, questions and suggestions, you can comment on an existing discussion or start a new one. For bug reports or feedback on specific elements of the data model and documentation, you can comment on the issues in the issue tracker or you can create a new issue.

To comment on or create discussions and issues, you need to sign up for a free GitHub account. If you prefer to provide feedback privately, you can email info@opentelecomdata.net.

What is open fibre data?

Open data is data that can be freely used, modified, and shared by anyone for any purpose.

Open fibre data describes fibre optic communication networks. It can cover:

  • Geospatial data, such as the physical location of the spans and nodes in a fibre optic communication network

  • Technical data, such as the number and type of optical fibres in a span

  • Administrative data, such as the organisations that own passive infrastructure or operate active network infrastructure

Why publish open fibre data?

Open fibre data is useful to many different stakeholders and can be used for many different purposes; for example:

  • Infrastructure and network providers can use data to avoid overbuild, reduce commercial risk and identify existing networks to connect to.

  • Academics, researchers and policy analysts can use data to understand the economic and/or social impact of investing in fibre infrastructure.

  • National statistics offices, regulatory agencies and inter-governmental organisations can use data to calculate internationally agreed indicators.

  • Government, private and multi-lateral investors can use data to identify opportunities to invest in fibre infrastructure.

  • Non-governmental organisations can use data to advocate for improved internet access.

For more information on the use cases for open fibre data, read the demand side research consultation document.

Maps and data: What’s the difference?

Maps are a type of data visualisation; they are distinct from the data itself.

Network providers, regulators and others often publish network maps without publishing the underlying data. Lack of access to the underlying data presents challenges for data users; in particular, for users that want to combine data on different networks or join-up data with other sources of social or economic data.

Publishing open fibre data, rather than only maps, reduces barriers to data use and ensures that permission is granted for reuse.