Modern Wireless Communication Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Next-generation wireless communication (6G and beyond) involves actively engineering and controlling the radio environment to build the core infrastructure for intelligent connected scenarios such as smart cities, the Industrial Internet, and immersive media. As a key component of the global digital transformation strategy, 6G aims to deliver exceptional spectral efficiency, reliability, and low-latency connectivity. The integration of key enabling technologies such as reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), integrated sensing and communications (ISACs), massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communications has been the forefront approach, achieving significant breakthroughs in network performance. However, meeting advanced application demands—such as dynamic service support for UAV swarms or high-precision positioning in ultra-dense networks—requires coordinated integration of these technologies, posing substantial challenges. Mature and universal solutions to technical bottlenecks, such as coordinated optimization of RIS and MIMO or real-time path planning for UAVs, are not yet fully resolved. Therefore, developing novel mathematical frameworks, advanced algorithms (including the intelligent application of AI/DL/RL), and innovative theories to address these challenges is a promising direction that warrants intensive research in the future.

This Special Issue accepts high-quality, original research papers and reviews that achieve breakthroughs in next-generation wireless communication through novel theories, advanced algorithms, or new technical methods. We also welcome papers that use advanced approaches to achieve better practical outcomes, especially those detailing new applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in intelligent connected scenarios. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Intelligent wireless communication and its application;
• Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) communications (RIS deployment/phase shift, resource allocation in multi-operator networks, hardware architecture, AI-based optimization, etc.);
• Channel estimation and beamforming (dynamic channel modeling/prediction, adaptive/robust beamforming, beamforming coordination for multi-cell systems, with optional optimization via DL/RL, etc.);
• Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) (waveform design, performance trade-off analysis, interference management, fairness-based resource allocation, target detection, ISAC applications in intelligent transportation, etc.);
• UAV and air-ground integrated communications (trajectory optimization, communication-aware path planning, 3D channel modeling, terrestrial and non-terrestrial network integration, dynamic path adjustment for communication nodes in complex environments, etc.);
• Advanced signal processing for wireless systems (massive MIMO, cell-free massive MIMO, hybrid beamforming, millimeter-wave/THz communications, non-convex optimization, etc.);
• AI/ML for wireless communication systems (deep reinforcement learning, hierarchical reinforcement learning, federated learning, end-to-end communication design, multi-agent systems, etc.);
• Next-generation multiple access and networking (non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA), etc.);
• Physical layer security and resource management (physical layer encryption/anti-eavesdropping, multi-dimensional resource allocation, QoS-aware resource scheduling, security enhancement for RIS/MIMO systems, with DL-based security solutions, etc.).

Dr. Xiao Zhou
Dr. Chengyou Wang
Dr. Guangming Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Future Internet is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• wireless communication
• massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)
• reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)
• integrated sensing and communication (ISAC)
• channel estimation and beamforming
• deep reinforcement learning (DRL)
• unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
• UAV path planning
• resource management
• physical layer security