Defining Critical Communications Networks: Modelling Networks as Systems

Abstract

ABSTRACTAs a society, we have become exceedingly dependent on our communication devices and the infrastructure networks supporting them. Even short duration network outages can result in chaos within public transport systems (air traffic control of commercial flights, traffic signaling of rail networks); disrupt financial systems (electronic payments, stock market transactions); and reduce business productivity (phone and email). It can also have the potential for loss of life: field utility workers communicating remotely with dispatch controllers to de‐energize and re‐energize lines for repair; law enforcement field personnel communicating needs for crowd control during riots; and alerting the public about dam breaches through emergency notification systems.This article helps explain what critical communications networks are, where these networks fit within a systems‐of‐systems context, and what other systems must also be resilient, redundant, and reliable to ensure communication networks can continue to operate as designed. It also introduces systems engineering principles, techniques, and approaches that we can use to aid in the design of critical wireless and wireline communications networks for normal day‐to‐day operations, and for the protection and recovery of those networks during service disruptions caused by man‐made and natural events.