Optimization of telecom network using efficient heuristics

Telecommunications networks, which have been designed to carry voice traffic for years are getting modified with substantial amount of fiber optic networks, due to it's obvious advantages. Fiber provides higher bandwidth transmission, are less susceptible to noise, or electromagnetic interference. Open competition has forced the network operators to compete based on the quality of service, capacity and operating margin. It is important for the operators to optimize their network configurations with savings in various network elements. All of this is to ensure reduced network capital cost and operational expenditure. In our paper, we have proposed a solution for a mesh topology network, where each of the nodes has the capability of communicating with the other nodes. The proposed optimization is based on Kruskal's algorithm for minimum spanning trees, selection and replacement of some of the fiber links between these network nodes with plastic based optical fibers; to maintain the bandwidth demands in Gigabits/s, while ensuring reduction in cost and ease of operation.