A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective on Self-Managing Networks

TL;DR

This paper advocates for a multi-stakeholder approach to self-managing networks, considering diverse interests of all involved parties to improve network performance and address complex challenges in modern telecommunication systems.

Contribution

It introduces a multi-stakeholder perspective into self-managing networks, expanding beyond the traditional operator-centric view to include service providers and end users.

Findings

Enhanced network performance through multi-stakeholder models

Addressing conflicts of interest improves management effectiveness

Broader stakeholder inclusion leads to more robust self-management strategies

Abstract

Modern telecommunication networks face an increasing complexity due to the rapidly growing number of networked devices and rising amounts of data. The literature advocates for self-managing networks as a means to tackle the resulting challenges. While self-managing networks provide potential solutions to these challenges, current research solely focuses on the perspective of network operators. However, modern telecommunication networks involve various stakeholders, such as service providers and end users, and necessitate interactions between them. By transitioning from a single-stakeholder to a multi-stakeholder perspective, we address the preferences of all involved parties, acknowledging potential conflicts of interest and constraints like information asymmetries. This broader perspective facilitates the development of more effective self-managing networks, significantly enhancing their performance metrics compared to approaches that solely prioritize the concerns of network operators.