Network Science for Communication Engineering

Abstract

Over the last two decades, networks science has been developed into a systematic tool for the study and analysis of networks of different types. Mainly, for the analysis of complex networks, it is the first choice irrespective of the discipline. In order to design elegant systems and to understand the complexities of the nature, scientists and engineers encounter many networks. Understanding of those networks provides basis for the resolution of the underlying complexities. Communication tools and devices have become ubiquitous these days due to the proliferation of the Internet and mobile networks. Communication networks have become gigantic and their characteristics have become very complex. Their complexities can be understood using network scientific methods developed for complex networks in network science. In this article, we provide the origin, characteristics, and main utilities of network science. We explain that the models of network science can be applied to estimate the parameters of the communication networks. It can assist in the practical cost estimations as well.