Only 13% of Telecom Operators Say Their Network Data Is Largely Accurate, Putting Service Activations and M&A at Risk

Cambridge, 8 October 2026 — IQGeo, a developer of AI-powered geospatial software used by leading network operators, today published the findings of its inaugural Ground Truth Survey 2026: Telecoms report. The research, conducted independently among 500 senior decision makers at telecom operators in the US, Canada and the UK, found that only 13% say more than three-quarters of their network records are accurate.

The research also reveals the toll: 100% of operators reported business impact from inaccurate physical network data in the past 12 months, with project and service activation delays most common (71%). The damage also extends beyond day-to-day operations, with 78% saying the quality of network asset data has a critical or major influence on valuations during M&A.

Additional Key Findings

• 90% of operators require engineers to take photos of completed infrastructure work to verify it was completed properly, but only 11% of operators verify them, leaving only 31% of operators confident the work was completed to standard
• Visual AI is the leading field work verification method in the UK (72%) and Canada (71%), but lags significantly in the US (45%)
• The average network management system is 13 years old, suggesting that while networking technology has continued to evolve, the systems managing them haven’t kept pace
• Fixing physical network data is the top problem operators want AI to solve as 63% target autonomous networks by 2030

Physical network data is the bedrock of telecom network operations. Knowing where every cable, duct and splice point sits, and keeping that record current as field engineers complete repairs and upgrades on infrastructure, is what makes it possible to operate a network. But with thousands of field engineers touching infrastructure daily, relying on manual data entry and disjointed legacy systems to log changes, records lose sync with reality quickly. In an era of accelerating consolidation, that gap has a direct cost in that acquirers conducting technical due diligence can’t verify capacity, model upgrade costs or confidently price what they’re buying, leaving both buyer and seller exposed.

Other Findings

Paper Persists in the Field

Nearly half of respondents (48%) are still using paper notes in the field that are manually entered into digital network management systems later. 24% say spreadsheets, CAD files or paper-based documentation is their primary system for managing their network records, introducing delays and transcription errors that undermine the accuracy of network data.

Data Updates are Lagging

Only 7% of respondents say that updates happen immediately once a field worker completes work on the network. Just about half (49%) say these updates happen within one week. Data silos, poor systems integration, data synchronization issues and manual processes were all cited as reasons for the lag.

Interestingly, operators using a single integrated geospatial system report a faster update of their system of records (4.5 days), compared to operators using multiple systems (5.3 days).

Accurate Network Data Drives Sustainability

91% of respondents say improved physical network data would help reduce construction and maintenance rework, and 92% say it would improve use of existing infrastructure, reducing the need to overbuild. With 94% believing ESG requirements will shape telecom network operations over the next five years, making the most of existing infrastructure is becoming just as much an environmental obligation as a commercial one.

David Cottingham, Chief Technology Officer at IQGeo, comments: “Operators, AI systems, investors and acquirers all need accurate, complete records of the physical network to make decisions. This research shows most operators are a long way from that. Systems are aging, records are split across multiple platforms and changes in the field are still taking days to flow back to the system of record. I think it’s very telling that, when we asked operators where AI deliver the most value, the number one answer was improving the accuracy of their records, ahead of predictive maintenance and network optimisation. Operators are recognizing that physical network data is the foundation for the next wave of telecoms transformation and consolidation.”

About the research

The Ground Truth Survey 2026: Telecoms was conducted on behalf of IQGeo by Vanson Bourne, an independent research firm, among 500 senior decision-makers at telecom network operators in the US, Canada and the UK. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents hold senior management or board-level positions, and 82% work at operators serving more than one million subscribers. The respondent base spans fiber, fixed broadband, mobile, integrated and wholesale operators.

About IQGeo

IQGeo is redefining how ambitious network operators plan, design, construct, operate and monetize their physical infrastructure. Guided by our mission of “Building Better Networks,” we deliver AI-powered geospatial software purpose-built for telecom and utility businesses that enables them to create accurate, live digital twins that form the foundation for agent-driven, self-managing networks. With native mobility at its core, our software transforms network data from across field and office into operational insight, cutting design and construction costs, improving process efficiency and enhancing safety and compliance. IQGeo’s solutions go beyond static maps to intelligent network models that power real-time decision-making.