- In order to ensure a smooth operation of the core or access network,** the load on all nodes and edges must be minimized**. - At the planning level, it is important to find** a cost-minimizing expansion of the capacity matrix** (i.e. minimum network expansion costs) for a given development of the network throughput in order to operate the future volumes in the network with minimum “maximum utilization” - For many related graph problems, formulations exist as optimization problems that can be solved or their solutions improved based on QAOA or Quantum Annealing.