Systems and methods are disclosed for networking planning for fixed backhaul networks comprising a plurality of hubs, each serving one or more RBMs. The method comprises one or more of
terrain pathloss (PL) and
antenna gain prediction; network design comprising site association, hub
dimensioning and pointing; and optimization of
small cell (SC) deployment. PL prediction is based on correlation of
user input parameters with reference use cases for
channel models for each of downtown, urban, and suburban deployment scenarios. Rapid and effective network planning is achieved with limited input data, even in the absence of
high resolution digital maps or building polygons, by selecting the channel model having a highest correlation with available environmental parameters. Optimization of
network topology design,
system design, and SC deployment, with both access link and backhaul link evaluation, is based on optimization of a sum-utility function across all links for feasible SC site locations.