A method, computer-readable storage device and an apparatus for planning tracking areas in a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method represents geographical neighbor relations between each pair of base stations in a first set, and represents in a third set a plurality of potential assignment options for each base station of the first set to tracking areas in a second set, represents the historical data on paging traffic among the base stations in the first set via a first parameter, and represents the historical data on tracking area update traffic among the tracking areas of the second set via a second parameter, and determines for each base station in the first set, the optimal assignment of a tracking area in the second set.