Network Planning Outlook

Abstract

Network planning software is a $178 million market growing with a CAGR of 10%. The market is driven by the rapid growth of data networking in mobile and wireline networks. Operators are investing in the data handling network infrastructure to support the introduction and growth of new content services that require much more data networking capacity.

The market for network planning tools and systems is divided into two major parts - RF planning and network infrastructure planning. The RF planning, used primarily by mobile operators for their radio to handset and microwave backhaul planning in the radio access network, is growing moderately, while the infrastructure planning portion has just begun its major expansion. Network infrastructure planning will support both residential broadband and mobile backhaul.

Historically, network planning is a function of individual engineers working with limited tools. Recently, the market has shifted to utilise more integrated tools, leading to new capabilities for existing vendors and opportunities for new vendors. Ultimately, operators are building integrated network lifecycle management where planning will be one key function of an integrated system.

This report gives a view of the current state of network planning, a forecast of spending growth and an extensive explanation of the changes that are taking place as this market shifts from old-world handcrafted engineering to modern, integrated automation.

The Network planning outlook provides a detailed five-year forecast. The forecast is broken out by region and service types, providing forecasts for eight different segment views. The report includes market shares of the leading suppliers and explains the overall business environment for business planning software. The report provides a definition of network planning, including the different disciplines and approaches in network planning. It explains, with diagrams, six different approaches to network planning.

• the most important drivers for operator spending in network planning
• the shift from expert, guru-led planning to a more systematic approach
• the differing requirements among mobile, residential-broadband and business services
• why mobile data networks are changing the way mobile network planning is handled
• where automation is crucial and why some operators continue to delay network planning automation
• where there are significant shifts in spending patterns
• why some operators choose to outsource network planning altogether
• the impact of faster planning cycles on network planning software.

The report includes a table comparing the leading network planning suppliers and a chart of the leading suppliers market share. The market share section includes explanations of the positioning of the six leading suppliers. The supplier summaries section includes short summaries of 14 leading suppliers.

This 44-page report is offered as part of OSS Observer' s Service Fulfillment research module and as a stand-alone report. It is an excellent source of market data and intelligence about network planning software for operators, network equipment and software suppliers, systems integrators, venture capitalists and financial analysts.