A method includes identifying a number of nodes in a network, where the nodes may correspond to cellular communication sites. The method may also include selecting some of the nodes as potential hub nodes and determining, for each of the potential hub nodes, a bandwidth needed to forward traffic from the potential hub node to a mobile switching office. The method may further include determining, for each of the potential hub nodes, bandwidths needed to forward traffic from the potential hub node to other ones of the nodes and calculating, for each of the potential hub nodes, costs or latencies associated with forwarding traffic from the potential hub node to the mobile switching office and to other ones of the nodes. The method may also include selecting a hub node based on the calculated costs and/or latencies.