Network planning is undergoing major changes in terms of the technologies considered and in terms of the methodologies. Mobile networks have to ensure that the requirements for the massive increase in data traffic and associated signaling are met, while core networks can profit from flexible optical spectrum usage in the future. New approaches to network operations also emerge such as virtualization, where both the virtual networks and the provisioning infrastructures have to be planned. The design of datacenters and clouds is a recent area of importance, demanding reliability and scalability. Finally, the integration of information and communication technology with multiple infrastructures such as power systems poses new requirements for the creation and operation of networks.

Novel approaches to network planning have been coming up at the same time. For instance, network planning systems are much more tied to network management systems, customer experience tools, analysis systems, and computation clouds leading to new planning architectures. Advances in the modeling of demand uncertainty, traffic dynamicity, and traffic forecasting enable operators to better estimate the required network capacities. Migration planning is able to tackle the transition to a new technology in an existing environment, ensuring operational feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, recent history mandates to meet advanced security and disaster recovery requirements already in the planning process.

Scope

This Special Issue aims to consolidate and disseminate the recent developments and advances in the area of network planning. The articles describing original research and development as well as survey articles related to network planning are solicited. In particular, we solicit papers focusing on the following topics including but not limited to:

1. • Network planning for these technologies:
   • LTE, LTE-A, Small Cells, femto-cells
   • Heterogeneous wireless networks
   • Fixed-Mobile Conversion
   • Emerging Access Networks
   • Flexible Optical Networks
   • Overlay and multi-layer networks
   • Virtualized Networks, Software-Defined Networks (SDN)
   • Datacenters, Cloud infrastructures, Networks for Big Data
   • Critical Infrastructures, Smart Grids, M2M
2. • Methodologies:
   • Innovative Planning Systems and Tool Architectures
   • Advanced interaction with Clouds and Network Management Systems
   • Migration Planning, Network Transformation, Multiperiod Planning
   • Risk based planning
   • Integration of Security and Disaster Recovery in Planning
   • Novel Optimization Approaches, Large-Scale Optimization
   • Design for energy efficiency
   • Advanced Analysis Methods, e.g., Customer Experience Systems
   • Standards related to network planning

Schedule for Submissions

Manuscript Submission Deadline June 1, 2013
Acceptance Notification September 1, 2013
Final Manuscript Due November 1, 2013
Publication Date January 2014

Guest Editors

For additional information about this Feature Topic, please contact the Guest Editors listed below:

Dominic Schupke
Nokia Siemens Networks
Munich, Germany
Email: schupke@ieee.org

Oscar Gonzál;ez de Dios
Telefonica I+D
Madrid, Spain
Email: ogondio@tid.es

David Tipper
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, USA
Email: dtipper@pitt.edu