Methods for trunk dimensioning in multiservice networks

This paper proposes two methods for determining the trunk capacities required on a multiservice network to satisfy the grades of service (call blocking probabilities) for the different offered reference traffic streams used to dimension the network in the planning process. Calls in progress are modelled as on-off Markovian sources. Method 1 invokes inverting the generalised-Erlang formula on each link to determine the trunk capacity. Method 2 (loss equivalent single-slot method) involves transforming multislot traffic streams to equivalent rough non-random traffic streams. A simulation study demonstrates that the approaches have acceptable accuracy for practical purposes.