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The launch comes ahead of “Call Before You Dig” day on August 11
Verizon has rolled out a new program aimed at protecting its fibre infrastructure from accidental damage during construction and excavation projects, ahead of the nationwide “Call Before You Dig” day on August 11.
Each year, many fibre lines are unintentionally cut by homeowners and others digging around network sites, leading to connectivity issues for customers that can last from a few hours to several days. Currently, Verizon says an underground utility line is damaged in this manner every six minutes.
To prevent this, diggers are supposed to call 811 and make a formal dig request, allowing those with underground infrastructure in the area to mark the location of the assets with paint or flags.
Now, Verizon is implementing a new technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help manage these dig requests from 811. By analysing over ten million 811 dig requests each year, the system identifies high-risk excavation sites based on historical data, current activity at the location, and the past performance of the excavators involved. Verizon then takes steps to reduce the chance of damage, such as additional communication with the excavators.
“We are using artificial intelligence and machine learning to be proactive, rather than reactive, keeping our customers connected and preventing accidents that result in costly repairs,” said Julie Slattery, Senior Vice President of Core Engineering and Operations at Verizon in a press release.
This new solution has been integrated into Verizon’s existing 811 system and has the potential to prevent several hundred fibre cuts annually. Verizon’s adoption of AI is part of a broader strategy to optimise operations, improve customer experiences, and explore new business opportunities through its network’s capabilities.
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