We partnered with the World Bank, Mozilla, the International Telecommunications Union, and the Community Broadband Network to map terrestrial fibre optic networks.
Fibre optic networks are the backbone of our digital age, powering high-speed internet that helps us discover information, builds stronger economies, and enables us to make connections across the world. Without access to data about these networks, researchers can’t study their social and economic impacts, and governments and network operators can’t address connectivity gaps.
We worked with the World Bank, the International Telecommunications Union, Mozilla and the Community Broadband Network to research and develop The Open Fibre Data Standard, an open standard for publishing data about terrestrial fibre optic network infrastructure.
Our approach
The Open Fibre Data Standard makes data about fibre optic networks more accessible and useful. Currently, network information is often shared as static images, requiring analysts to manually trace maps to create machine-readable data. Adopting the Open Fibre Data Standard can significantly reduce this effort and cost.
We worked closely with our partners to rapidly understand the needs of people who would publish and use data about fibre optic networks. First, we assessed data supply and demand. We conducted desk research and worked with the Community Broadband Network to hold stakeholder interviews with network operators, telecom consultants, researchers, regulators, investors, NGOs, and inter-governmental organisations. We reviewed existing data about these networks to understand its structure, format, common fields, and the level of standardisation.
Building on this research, we developed use cases, user stories, and technical requirements for the standard. We identified 7 primary use cases, 47 user stories, and 38 requirements. We worked iteratively to develop a robust data model and a tool to convert data from spreadsheets to JSON, validate it against the standard, and help publishers explore their data.
The result
The Open Fibre Data Standard is a groundbreaking initiative that helps researchers, governments, and network operators to access and use fibre optic network data. This helps to bridge connectivity gaps and unlock the full potential of high-speed internet for communities worldwide.
In 2023, the standard was successfully piloted in Kenya and Ghana, including workshops with local network operators and communications regulators. Following this success, the World Bank has set aside funding for implementing a pilot in East Africa.