Cost Optimization in Computer Network Design Using Minimum Spanning Tree Techniques: A Realistic Study

Designing a computer network that is both reliable and cost-effective is a critical challenge for organisations such as universities, industries, and government institutions. The cost of network deployment is mainly influenced by the length of communication links, the type of transmission media, and the number of redundant connections. This research paper presents a detailed, realistic study of cost optimisation in computer network design using Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) techniques. The proposed approach models the network as a weighted graph and applies Kruskal’s algorithm to obtain an optimised network topology with minimum total cost while maintaining full connectivity. A campus network case study is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. The results show a significant reduction in overall cost compared to a fully connected network, making the MST-based design suitable for practical network planning.