What?

GIS Geek is a mapping platform that displays telecommunications infrastructure across multiple countries. We provide detailed maps showing the locations of cell towers, point-to-point radio links, land mobile radio systems, and fixed-line infrastructure like broadband cabinets and exchanges.

Our platform helps users understand what telecommunications services and infrastructure are available in specific locations, making it easier to assess connectivity options for homes, businesses or travel destinations. Whether you’re looking to understand mobile coverage, broadband availability or the broader telecommunications landscape in an area, GIS Geek provides the tools and data you need.

Why?

A very long time ago, while searching for a place to live, I noticed a significant gap: there wasn’t an easy way to check what services (DSL and mobile service being key at the time) were available at potential addresses.

The coverage maps provided by mobile service providers at the time were insufficient, lacking the details necessary to understand the full picture. Additionally, ISPs might indicate that VDSL was available, but the actual speeds you could expect were heavily influenced by your proximity to the nearest cabinet or exchange.

Although this information was somewhat accessible, it was in disparate data sources, and it wasn’t presented in a user-friendly format that allowed for easy location-based searches.

Around this time, Google Fusion Tables emerged as the go-to solution for plotting large sets of spatial data. This led to the creation of the first version of GIS Geek, a website designed to conveniently display this information.

Now, GIS Geek is in its sixth major iteration and has expanded beyond its original focus to serve multiple countries. It is utilised by thousands each month and remains true to its original purpose: helping people understand what services are available and where.

How?

In most countries, any entity wishing to transmit or receive registered spectrum services, which includes all cell networks, is required to register their spectrum details with a government agency. Similarly, the same can be true for fixed line services.

The data that powers GIS Geek comes from these government agencies and telecommunications providers across different countries. For specific details about our data sources, see the Data Sources section below.

Data is typically updated on a regular basis, with frequency varying by country and data source.

Who?

GIS Geek is owned and developed by JGrah.am Limited. You can read about any updates or plans for the site on X.

Overview

GIS Geek provides mapping tools and detailed infrastructure information through our Map Viewer and Site / Licence Detail pages. Our platform combines powerful visualisation with extensive filtering capabilities to help you understand telecommunications infrastructure in Australia and New Zealand.

Map Viewer & Site Detail Pages

Our interactive Map Viewer allows you to explore telecommunications infrastructure across multiple countries. Switch between different layer types, apply filters, and click on any infrastructure element to see detailed information. The map supports both country-specific views and multi-layer overlay comparisons for comprehensive analysis.

Each infrastructure site has a dedicated detail page providing comprehensive technical information, regulatory details, equipment specifications, and user-contributed content like photos and location corrections. These pages offer insights into individual sites with direct links to regulatory databases, and do not require registration; you are free to send these links to anyone.

Advanced Filtering & Address Search

Our advanced filtering system allows you to narrow down infrastructure based on multiple criteria including providers, services, frequency bands, and date ranges. Dynamic filtering updates the map in real-time, making it easy to focus on specific types of infrastructure or operational parameters.

The integrated address search functionality helps you quickly navigate to specific locations. Simply start typing an address, and our geocoding service provides suggestions to jump directly to areas of interest. This is particularly useful for assessing infrastructure coverage around specific addresses or planning locations.

Some of these filters require a subscription, but you’re able to do all the basics with a free registration.

Cell Towers

The cell towers layer aggregates mobile network infrastructure by location, showing all registered frequency licences and devices grouped by site. Each tower displays provider information, supported services (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G), frequency bands, and technical specifications.

Detail pages include licence information, equipment details, and user-contributed photos. We also provide cell ID data where available to help with network analysis and signal troubleshooting.

New Zealand Specific: For NZ cell towers, we display both elevation and antenna height measurements. The elevation refers to the location’s height above sea level (the ground level of the site), while the antenna height refers to how high the antennas are mounted above the ground at that location. For example, a site at 20m elevation with antennas 40m high means the ground is 20 metres above sea level, and the antennas are mounted 40 metres above that ground level.

As an example, see the 2Degrees Addington Central or Optus Williamstown locations.

Point to Point Links

Point-to-point (PTP) links represent dedicated radio connections between two specific locations. Our layer shows both transmit and receive configurations, allowing you to trace network paths and understand backhaul infrastructure.

Each link detail page provides frequency information, equipment specifications, antenna details, link distance calculations, and associated licence information. This data is essential for understanding network topology and interference analysis.

As an example, see the Powerco Paengaroa or Telstra Cape Wickham licences.

Land Mobile Radio

Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems are used by emergency services, utilities, transport operators, and private organisations for critical communications. Our layer displays these licensed radio systems with comprehensive technical details.

LMR detail pages include frequency allocations, power levels, antenna configurations, and licence conditions. This information is valuable for frequency coordination, emergency planning, and understanding critical communications infrastructure.

As an example, see the BT Mining Stockton Mine or BHP McCamey’s Monster licences.

Fixed Line Infrastructure

New Zealand Only. Fixed line infrastructure includes broadband cabinets, exchanges, and other telecommunications infrastructure that provides wired internet and phone services. This layer helps understand broadband availability and connection types.

Fixed line detail pages show infrastructure types, service capabilities, backhaul connections, and proximity to residential areas. This data is crucial for understanding broadband coverage and assessing connectivity options for specific locations.

As an example, see the Chorus Waimauku location.

User Registration

Why Restricted?

Originally, Google provided a set number of hits per API for their services. However, this changed to a credit system across all their APIs. Prior to this shift, the costs to run GIS Geek were mainly time investment and minor hosting fees. But post-change, the Google API fees increased significantly. The situation escalated during the COVID-19 5G conspiracy theories, leading to exorbitant costs due to huge traffic spikes from anti-5G groups on Facebook.

To manage this, we now require user registration to access information, effectively reducing these spikes and maintaining manageable site traffic.

What does "Free*" mean?

Thanks to our subscribers and supporters, GIS Geek currently covers its operating costs. While we hope to keep the site free, this might not always be the case. Our goal is to continue providing this valuable service at minimal or no cost to our users.

Subscribers gain access to enhanced map features, data exports and email alerts, helping to support the ongoing development and maintenance of the site. Learn more about subscriber benefits.

User Contributed Content

Photos

We allow logged-in users to contribute photos of the infrastructure sites featured on GIS Geek, specifically our cell towers, point-to-point links, land mobile radio sites, or fixed-line cabinets. Submitted photos are reviewed before being made public. Users can optionally add captions to their photos.

As an example, see the OneNZ Methven location.

Location Information

We allow logged-in users to suggest corrections for the locations of infrastructure sites (Cell Towers, PTP Links and LMR Sites). If you notice a site appears slightly misplaced on the map, you can propose a more accurate location directly from the site’s detail page. These suggestions are reviewed by an administrator. If approved, the corrected location will be used on the map and detail pages, helping to improve the overall accuracy of the data for everyone. A notice will indicate when a location has been adjusted based on user feedback.

Frequently asked questions

I don’t think this Tower / PTP / LMR exists.

You’re probably right, in some cases. We plot licences to operate spectrum by their registered location from the data source. Generally, if there’s a licence, it’s likely that a tower or link exists. However, sometimes licences are registered prior to installation or activation.

Who can use measure mode?

Measure mode is a subscriber-only feature. It is currently not supported on mobile devices, so it will only appear on desktop.

This Tower / PTP / LMR is in the wrong place.

Again, you might be right in some instances. We plot locations exactly as received from the data source, without making any manual adjustments. There are scenarios where data might be incorrectly entered against a licence - such as mixing up receive and transmit locations, or just entering incorrect coordinates.

While we previously didn’t have a way to adjust these directly on GIS Geek, logged-in users can now suggest corrections for site locations. These suggestions are reviewed, and approved changes help improve accuracy for everyone. If the data source is updated, GIS Geek will automatically update the location.

What services are running on the tower?

This information is known only to the service provider. We make educated guesses based on the frequencies providers are known to use for certain services. For instance, OneNZ’s use of 3500MHz for their 5G rollout is well-documented, so we assume licences on this frequency are for 5G. However, in cases like Spark’s 2600MHz frequency, which is used for both 4G and 5G, it’s harder to distinguish the service.

How does the Cell ID data work?

The Cell ID data is sourced from opencellid.org. They provide an API to access this data, which is then periodically updated on GIS Geek. This data is crowdsourced and thus may not always be accurate, especially in less urban areas. It’s displayed based on proximity to the tower location, but users should apply their judgement regarding its accuracy. If you know of a better data source, please get in touch.

The links back to government data sources don’t work?

If you’re experiencing issues with these links, it might be because some government agencies have updated their systems to require user authentication. Once logged in to the relevant government system, they should work as expected.

Data Sources

GIS Geek sources its infrastructure data from various government agencies and telecommunications providers. Below are the specific data sources for each country we currently support:

Australia

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA): All Australian infrastructure data is based on ACMA information, the government agency responsible for regulating broadcasting, radiocommunications, telecommunications and online content in Australia. ACMA maintains comprehensive records of all licensed spectrum services, including cell towers, point-to-point links, and land mobile radio systems.

ACMA data is updated nightly.

New Zealand

Radio Spectrum Management (RSM): All cell tower, point-to-point link, and land mobile radio data comes from Radio Spectrum Management. RSM is the government agency responsible for managing New Zealand’s radio spectrum. Any entity wishing to transmit or receive registered spectrum services must register their spectrum details with RSM, providing comprehensive coverage of licensed infrastructure.

Chorus: Fixed line infrastructure data comes from Chorus, who own the majority of copper fixed line services in New Zealand. Chorus previously provided public information on their cabinet rollout/upgrades. However, in the new era of UFB, where they don’t hold exclusive rights, this information has become ‘commercially sensitive’ and is no longer shared. Our current cabinet location and name data is from 2016 and may be outdated. The exchange data, however, is more current as it has been crowdsourced.

The broadband data is from November 2019. While the location information might be old, the capabilities it indicates are accurate. Note that proximity to a Chorus cabinet doesn’t guarantee good service – the quality of service depends on the length and quality of the copper connecting it to your home.

RSM data is updated nightly, while Chorus data is updated on an ad hoc basis.

Partners

We’re committed to supporting registered non-profit organisations and community groups with their infrastructure data needs. If your organisation could benefit from access to our data and services, please get in touch to discuss how we can help.

Organisations We Support