Bulletin 100, August 97 

 
 
Least Cost Networking in an International Competitive Environment
 
Alain SUTTER, Boissin & Sutter Optimization, Paris, France
 
Tuesday, September 23, 14.15 - 15.45
 
Abstract
 
Merging of new international competitors in a global deregulation context leads to new optimization problems in telecommunications. This presentation addresses Least Cost Networking, a strategic issue in a competitive environment. Mainly Voice services are considered in their international context and related modeling and optimization issues are examined. Two complementary topics are presented.
 
The first focuses on basic network design and routing strategies for new inter-national operators. Traffic is flowed on a meshed overlay network build on own leased lines but can be overflowed to competing operators. All layers: Transmission, Voice trunk and Call, and best balance between overlay and external routing are simultaneously optimized, taking into account several services (off net and on net traffic, prepaid cards, etc.). A model is presented and heuristically solved using a combination of Tabu Search and Erlang fixed point. Some results from real life problems are presented and analyzed.
 
The second topic addresses the impact of deregulation on international networking and least cost routing. The first part deals with impact on accounting rates of new refile and alternernate calling procedures. Issues from both public administrations and new competitors are examined. Finally, opportunities for members of an international alliance in sharing some common ressources are examined.
 
Biographical Sketch
 
Alain Sutter obtained a PhD in Operation Research at CNAM University, Paris. For three years (87-90), he pursued an academic research activity, published in international journals, mainly in combinatorial optimization, and taught O.R. at an Engineering School of CNAM University.
 
In 1990, he joined CNET, the Research Division of France Telecom, as a researcher and, in the last three years, as the head of the "Optimization of Transmission and Transport Networks" Group, in charge of important strategic studies for deployment of SDH rings in the France Telecom network.
 
In 1996, he left CNET to found, with Dr. Boissin, a spin off company from CNET, called Boissin & Sutter Optimisation (BSO), which develops optimization software for Telecom operators.
 
 
Dr. Alain SUTTER
Boissin & Sutter Optimization
27, rue de Richelieu
75001 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 53 45 82 90
Fax:+33 1 53 45 82 87
Mobile: +33 6 11 80 26 71
 
 


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