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Network-based interactive television, virtual reality, home-shopping and
similar applications are expected to bring about a fundamental change in
the way we live in the 21st century. Even when we do travel, we might
expect an intelligent transportation system to provide information from
a network of traffic databases. We will be surrounded by a data field
(akin to the gravitational field) made possible by the convergence of
technologies like televisions, computers and networks. While the growth
of telecommunications over the past decade has been phenomenal, we
expect that the explosion of telecommunications applications is still to
come. However, without the use of advanced Operations Research (OR)
methods, one can expect these networks to collapse under their own
loads. For example, the transfer of vast amounts of data on the Internet
has already started pushing that system to its limits. Members of the
INFORMS section on telecommunications are studying models that will
improve network design and performance while reducing costs of
implementation.
The INFORMS Technical Section on Telecommunications provides a forum
in which researchers exchange experiences and ideas for innovative
network planning, operation and management. From a methodological
perspective, research reported by the membership uses a variety of
optimization, simulation and stochastic models.
The biggest strength of the section is its membership. We have an
ideal representation from both industry and academics. Consequently,
the group reflects both practical as well as theoretical interests,
thus making it a vibrant OR application. As a result, the section has
held eight highly successful special interest meetings and will hold
the next one in March, 2008. In conjunction with these meetings, the
section also produces state-of-the-art proceedings. In addition,
INFORMS supports at least two journals which have an area dedicated to
OR applications in telecommunications. We invite individuals with
similar interests to join this section and help lead the application
of OR methods in telecommunications.
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