Recent Advances in Radio Resource Management for Future Cellular Networks

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Microwave and Wireless Communications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2026 | Viewed by 445

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Information Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Interests: intelligent resource allocation and optimization algorithms for 5G/6G cellular networks

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Guest Editor
School of Internet of Things, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
Interests: 5G/6G enabling technologies: network architecture, resource allocation, and interface and transmission technologies; cloud/edge/fog/device-computing assisted radio access networks; wireless networked control of mobile robotic objects: autonomous driving, and IoT industry automation; integration and coordination of communication, computing etc.; U2X/V2X/D2D communications

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Guest Editor
School of Communication and Information Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Interests: NR-U; integrated sensing and communication (ISAC); space-terrestrial integrated networks (STINs); Gen AI

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Radio Resource Management (RRM) is a fundamental component of cellular networks, responsible for ensuring the efficient utilization of the radio spectrum and maintaining quality of service. In the context of 6G and future wireless systems, RRM faces unprecedented challenges due to the explosive growth of applications with highly heterogeneous requirements. These applications demand ultra-low latency, extremely high reliability, massive connectivity, and increased spectral and energy efficiency.

To meet these demands, next-generation wireless technologies are emerging. Examples include massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (massive-MIMO), Orthogonal Time–Frequency Space (OTFS) modulation, Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA), and the exploitation of unlicensed spectrum bands. Simultaneously, the architecture of cellular networks is undergoing a significant transformation, incorporating paradigms such as Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Open Radio Access Networks (O-RANs). These advances introduce new challenges for the design and optimization of RRM mechanisms, which must now operate in more dynamic, distributed, and software-defined environments.

This Special Issue aims to present state-of-the-art research in RRM for 6G and beyond, covering theoretical developments, algorithmic innovations, and architectural solutions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • AI and machine learning techniques for intelligent RRM.
  • Novel theoretical frameworks, including numerical optimization and game-theoretic approaches to RRM.
  • RRM strategies tailored to emerging technologies such as massive-MIMO, OTFS, and Rate-Splitting Multiple Access (RSMA).
  • Spectrum sharing and cooperative RRM across licensed and unlicensed bands.
  • RRM in diverse 6G scenarios, including integrated space–air–ground–sea networks, massive IoT, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs), and Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC).
  • RRM solutions supporting new application paradigms such as federated learning, holographic communication, AI-native networking, digital twins, and the metaverse.
  • Green RRM techniques to enhance energy efficiency and support sustainable 6G deployments.

Dr. Yue Wu
Dr. Bintao Hu
Dr. Yuan Gao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • radio resource management
  • 6G network
  • artificial intelligence
  • machine learning
  • game theory
  • wireless communications
  • network management

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 1601 KB  
Article
NOMA-Enabled Cooperative Two-Way Communications for Both Primary and Secondary Systems
by Dong-Hua Chen and Kaiwei Ruan
Electronics 2026, 15(2), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15020389 - 15 Jan 2026
Viewed by 236
Abstract
With the aid of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), this paper investigates simultaneous two-way communications for cooperative cognitive radio networks, where a group of secondary access points (APs) scattered over a primary cell not only serve their own users but also help the primary [...] Read more.
With the aid of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), this paper investigates simultaneous two-way communications for cooperative cognitive radio networks, where a group of secondary access points (APs) scattered over a primary cell not only serve their own users but also help the primary cell-edge users′ transmissions cooperatively. As a reward for the cooperation, these APs are granted full access to the primary frequency spectrum. To coordinate the two-way transmissions of the primary and secondary networks, we propose a spectrum-efficient cooperative scheme that only involves two transmission phases, and particularly, the two variable-length transmission phases endow the system with the capability of adapting to possible DL and UL traffic asymmetry. For the system design, we formulate a power minimization problem subject to the bidirectional transmission rate constraints of both networks. The formulated problem is shown to be nonlinear and nonconvex, and for the numerically efficient solution, we propose an iterative algorithm facilitated by the successive convex approximation technique. Simulation results show that the proposed design algorithm has fast convergence speed and is superior to the hybrid orthogonal multiple access and NOMA schemes. Full article
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