Abstract: A system and method for homogeneously merging locations in a telecommunications network including: calculating a first characteristic of a carrier at a first location and a second location; determining a penalty for excluding the carrier based in part on the first characteristic; comparing the a penalty determined to a preselected value; and, if the penalty is less than the preselected value, merging the first location and the second location, thereby forming a merged location.

Abstract: A system and method for homogeneously merging locations in a telecommunications network including: calculating a characteristic of a carrier at a first location and a second location; determining a penalty for excluding the carrier based in part on the characteristic; comparing the penalty determined to a preselected value; and, if the penalty is less than the preselected value, merging the first location and the second location, thereby forming a merged location.

Abstract: A system and method for homogeneously merging locations in a telecommunications network including: calculating at least one first characteristic of at least one carrier at a first location and a second location; determining at least one penalty for excluding the at least one carrier based in part on the at least one first characteristic; comparing the at least one penalty determined to at least one preselected value; and, if the at least one penalty is less than the at least one preselected value, merging the at least one first location and the at least one second location, thereby forming at least one first merged location.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a first automated system monitors at least one call characteristic (e.g., frequency of abnormally short calls) to determine whether quality of service standards are being met by the various carriers being utilized by the system. Such an at least one call characteristic can be stored in a database for later retrieval by an automated link diagnosis system. If appropriate, a link re-routing system can respond to an analysis of the link diagnosis system in order to re-route calls—by either taking at least one link out of service or by placing at least one link back into service.