Planning problems for the intelligent network segment of future mobile networks

It is envisaged that future cellular systems, e.g., UMTS, will consist of three network segments, namely, core, access, and intelligent. In this paper, we discuss about planning problems related to the design of the intelligent network segment. Two major problem areas are identified. First, the association of local exchange (LE) areas to mobility and services control point (MSCP) areas (MSCP level problem), and second, the association of MSCP areas to mobility and services data point (MSDP) areas (MSDP level problem). In our discussion we formally define the problems, outline their corresponding optimal formulations and, where appropriate, discuss directions for the construction of computationally efficient solutions.