5G-and-Beyond Communications for Autonomous Vehicles

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid evolution of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is driving unprecedented demand for advanced communication technologies that ensure reliability, safety, and efficiency in highly dynamic environments. Fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks have already introduced significant enhancements in latency, bandwidth, and connectivity density. However, the emerging ecosystem of connected and autonomous mobility requires “5G-and-Beyond” solutions that extend far beyond the current standards, incorporating advances in ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), edge computing, AI-driven networking, and spectrum innovation.

This Special Issue focuses on the interplay between 5G-and-Beyond communication technologies and the enabling requirements of autonomous vehicles. The scope is to gather cutting-edge contributions that address technical challenges, propose innovative architectures, and evaluate the socio-technical impact of these systems. The purpose is twofold: (i) to advance the theoretical and practical foundations for vehicular communication networks, and (ii) to highlight emerging directions that will underpin safe, scalable, and intelligent autonomous transportation systems.

Existing literature has extensively examined 5G-enabled vehicular networks, V2X communication standards, and cooperative perception. However, much of this work remains fragmented, often addressing isolated aspects such as latency reduction or edge integration without considering holistic end-to-end system design. This Special Issue will complement and extend the current body of research by integrating perspectives from communication theory, network architecture, edge/cloud intelligence, and application-level requirements for AVs.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC) for AV safety-critical systems.
• V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication in 5G-and-Beyond networks.
• Edge and fog computing for autonomous driving support.
• AI- and ML-assisted vehicular communication and decision making.
• Spectrum management and mmWave/THz communications for AVs.
• Security, trust, and privacy in vehicular networks.
• Network slicing and QoS optimisation for AV applications.
• Cooperative perception and sensor data sharing via advanced networks.
• Digital twins and simulation platforms for 5G-and-Beyond AV testing.
• Policy, regulatory, and standardisation aspects of AV communication systems.

Through this Special Issue, we aim to provide an integrated perspective on 5G-and-Beyond communications for autonomous vehicles, bridging gaps in current research and offering a roadmap for future developments in intelligent transportation systems.

You are welcome to submit an unpublished original research work related to the theme of “5G-and-Beyond Communications for Autonomous Vehicles”.

Dr. Piyush Dhawankar
Prof. Dr. Krishna Busawon
Guest Editors

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• autonomous vehicles (AVs)
• 5G and beyond (B5G/6G)
• vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication
• ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC)
• edge and cloud computing
• artificial intelligence for mobility
• network slicing
• intelligent transportation systems (ITSs)
• cybersecurity and privacy
• connected and cooperative driving