arious attributes that comprise the aspects of the network under evolution, so that a set of goals could be met or a vision for the network could be achieved. The items that could be covered in such a roadmap could vary based on the network under discussion and the organization that is planning the roadmap, as in: Physical aspects of the network, such as the different network elements that make up the network and their capabilities Characteristics of the network performance Services offered by the network Users or subscribers of the network Different devices that are supported by the network and their capabilities Aspects of end-user visible performance of the network like, for example, user-experienced speeds in downlink and uplink for an operator deploying an LTE network Implementation aspects of the network, such as the transport layer and whether the transport will be ipv4 or ipv6 CHAPTER 4 NETWORK ROADMAPS Nonfunctional aspects of the network, such as security, availability, reliability, or administration Ability of the network to integrate with other existing networks Before we go any further, let's look at a small illustration of a network roadmap, courtesy of the Georgia Tech Research Network. Although the roadmap itself was published in 2010, what is of interest here are the elements that are visible. The roadmap itself is accessible eathttp://www.oit.gatech.edu/initiatives/network-roadmap. The guiding vision for the network is explained (excerpted below) so it is easier to understand the context in which the roadmap and the items under progress are presented. For any organization, it is important to have a clearly defined vision for the network itself, even if this is also expressed in terms of business goals. [T]he purpose of the Georgia Tech network has been to provide a strategic resource and sustained competitive advantage to the Institute as an educational and research enterprise, and to our faculty, students, and staff. For the last two decades, Georgia Tech and OIT have provided instrumental lead