From a natural generalization to Z2 of the concept of congruence, it is possible to define a family of 2-regular digraphs that we call commutative-step networks. Particular examples of such digraphs are the cartesian product of two directed cycles, C1 x Ch, and the fixed-step network (or 2-step circulant digraph) DN,a,b.In this paper the theory of congruences in Z2 is applied to derive three equivalent characterizations of those commutative-step networks that have a Hamiltonian cycle. Some known results are then obtained as a corollary. For instance, necessary and sufficient conditions for C1 x Ch or DN,a,b to be hamiltonian are discussed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
