Complex communication systems achieving interference-free frequency allocation

Telecommunication systems have evolved, from being simple monolithic structures to complex ones. The present paper is an attempt to recast telecom systems in the language of complex systems. As a specific application of complex systems science to telecom systems, we tackle the problem of self-organizing frequency allocation. For this purpose, we model the problem of frequency assignment within the framework of cellular automata and we present an algorithm that reaches an interference-free allocation of the channels in a finite number of steps. By applying a measure of spatial structure and pattern to the two-dimensional lattice representing the frequency allocation, our study shows that autonomous networks assigning frequencies to their cells in a self-organized way, can be defined and therefore studied as complex systems. On the contrary, traditional networks based on centralized pre-planned frequency allocation cannot be considered as complex, according to the meaning given to the word by complex systems science. The present paper is to be considered as a step towards a comprehensive and rigorous study of Complex Communication Systems (CCS), adopting in communication networks design and analysis, the results and philosophy underlying the emerging multi-disciplinary field of Complex Systems Science.