The present invention relates to a method for optimization of demands in a
packet switched communication network, especially, though not exclusively, for the optimization of demands in a
Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)
packet switched communication network. The present invention provides a method to enable network nodes, such as routers to be clustered into components, with the components organised in a hierarchical fashion, and with the network “core” at the root of this hierarchy. Demands that originate or terminate at components outside the core, but that
traverse the core, are temporarily replaced by demands that originate and terminate within the
core component. Having optimized the resulting set of demands it is then shown how to use the solution to satisfy the original demands. Multi-access networks cause some complications, and these are taken into account. Also, further demand replacement methods have been developed that take into account complex access situations, In particular, as mentioned, the case has been considered, where there is an existing partitioning of the routers, e.g. into core and access routers, which needs to be respected.