The rapid evolution of network technology means operators need to be smarter about how they manage their networks if they are to streamline their processes, cut their operating costs and increase their return on investment. Fixing 3G networks is time-consuming and costly, due to the manual and fragmented processes that many operators use. The introduction of LTE (long-term evolution), often as an overlay to 2G and 3G networks, is making it worse. LTE networks, which are likely to use more base stations than previous-generation networks to achieve the capacity and coverage that users have come to expect, will be more costly unless a better approach is found. Self-organising network (SON) technologies and greater automation of the business processes involved in running a network may be the way forward.