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Techno-economics methods are essential for evaluating telecommunications systems. For example, the success or failure of new telecommunications technologies and business models depend on achieving techno-economic viability. Indeed, network operators must be able to generate revenue streams which outweigh required investment costs. Given this circumstance, there is a great need for research which considers both techno-economic aspects of different technologies, and the methodological aspects of techno-economic techniques.

As new telecommunication technologies emerge from R&D laboratories and are assessed for deployment, a range of questions need to be answered by network operators and policy makers. These include a range of questions pertaining to the provided capacity, coverage, and enhanced Quality of Service. For example, how cost-efficient is a new technology? How profitable may a new network deployment be and what is the expected return on investment? How much financial risk is potentially involved if demand is lower than forecast, and what mitigation strategies could be implemented at the planning stage?

Given the evolution of telecommunications markets in different regions across the world, the following types of networks require continuous techno-economic assessment: mobile access networks (Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G, 6G, etc.), fixed access networks (Fiber-To-The-x, cable networks, copper-based networks etc.), different types of unlicensed wireless access networks (Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, etc.), satellite networks (Low Earth Orbit, geosynchronous equatorial orbit), aerial platforms, fixed wireless access networks, cloud networks, backhaul networks, transport and optical networks, core networks (mobile, fixed), and applications systems. Additionally, as many networks are dependent on access to spectrum (which is experiencing increased scarcity), the techno-economics of spectrum sharing is also a key area of interest.

The telecommunication sector is undergoing fundamental changes, driven by new market and technical developments, in combination with the continued influence of capital and financial markets. Furthermore, the telecommunications sector is becoming more competitive due to the increased number of network and service providers, offering customers a variety of communication products and services. The sector is also critical for society as the provider of critical infrastructure necessary for digital transformation. Finally, renewable energy and power consumption reduction aspects play an important role in current and future telecom networks, and broader world economy.

The goal of this Feature Topic (FT) is to contribute state-of-the-art methods and findings from the application of techno-economic assessment to telecommunications systems. The Feature Topic will consider studies conducted for advanced and emerging markets. Authors of manuscripts can take as reference the articles that were published in the Special Issue about techno-economics for telecommunications published in the February 2023 issue of the IEEE Communications Magazine. Subjects of interest in the 2024 Feature Topic include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Techno-economic assessment
• Cost considerations: capital expenditure (CAPEX), operational expenditure (OPEX), total cost of ownership (TCO)
• Business case assessment and business case frameworks
• Risk analysis
• Financial analysis: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), net present value (NPV), cash flows, return on investment (ROI), return on invested capital (ROIC) etc.
• Revenue calculation, demand analysis
• Business models
• Uncertainty quantification in techno-economic models (e.g., sensitivity analysis, Monte Carlo)
• Importance of techno-economics for the definition of new telecommunications technologies

Topics that are out of scope of this FT:

• Market analysis
• Industrial economics, industrial policy
• Standardization

Submission Guidelines

Manuscripts should conform to the standard format as indicated in the Information for Authors section of the Manuscript Submission Guidelines. Please, check these guidelines carefully before submitting since submissions not complying with them will be administratively rejected without review. Authors should submit no more than one manuscript for review to this FT.

All manuscripts to be considered for publication must be submitted by the deadline through Manuscript Central. Select the “FT-2305 / Techno-Economic Analysis of Telecommunications Systems” topic from the drop-down menu of Topic/Series titles. Please observe the dates specified here below noting that there will be no extension of submission deadline.

Important Dates

Manuscript Submission Deadline: 25 February 2024 (Extended Deadline)
Decision Notification: 15 May 2024
Final Manuscript Due: 1 July 2024
Publication Date: September 2024

Guest Editors

Juan Rendon Schneir
Deutsche Telekom, Germany

Bengt Mölleryd
Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, Sweden

Edward Oughton
George Mason University, USA

Carmen Mas-Machuca
University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Germany