Layered design of mobile backhaul networks

Due to the ever increasing data traffic growth, network operators and network capacity planners are faced with the challenge of upgrading their backhaul network in the simplest and the most cost effective manner. A great variety of transmission and switching resources are available for this purpose. A choice of architecture, using Ethernet in the layer below IP on the one hand, or SDH switching on the other hand, must also be made. Transmission resources can potentially be used more effectively by grooming high capacity systems by subdividing them by means of either SDH or Ethernet switching. Using the Netml system, a publicly available web-based network analysis and design system, all these alternatives are explored, the most cost-effective designs are identified, and the reason they are more efficient is revealed.