Software-Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualization
A special issue of Future Internet (ISSN 1999-5903). This special issue belongs to the section "Network Virtualization and Edge/Fog Computing".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 22
Special Issue Editors
Interests: cloud computing; edge computing; software defined networking; network virtualization; SDN
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: disease identification; emotion recognition; personal identification; deep learning; data mining
Interests: software defined networking; data center networking
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In today’s hyperconnected environment, Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) have emerged as pivotal paradigms shaping the future of networking. These approaches enhance agility, scalability, and efficiency across diverse network infrastructures by decoupling network control from the underlying hardware and leveraging virtualization technologies. The flexibility afforded by SDN’s centralized control plane enables rapid policy enforcement, dynamic resource allocation, and improved network visibility, while NFV transforms traditionally hardware-bound network functions into software-driven, on-demand services. SDN and NFV unlock innovative opportunities in 5G/6G communications, edge-to-cloud integration, and distributed computing, paving the way for cutting-edge applications that demand reliability, low latency, and real-time processing.
This Special Issue aims to capture the latest SDN and NFV research advances, underscoring their critical roles in achieving intelligent, automated, and secure networking solutions. We invite contributions that explore novel architectures, performance optimization strategies, security frameworks, orchestration mechanisms, and real-world deployment experiences. Researchers, practitioners, and industry stakeholders are encouraged to share state-of-the-art findings, propose forward-looking roadmaps, and highlight pressing challenges that will shape network evolution in a hyperconnected world.
Dr. He Li
Prof. Dr. Yoshifumi Okada
Dr. Xiaoyi Tao
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.
Keywords
- software-defined networking (SDN)
- network function virtualization (NFV)
- 5G/6G communications
- network slicing
- virtualized network functions (VNFs)
- edge-to-cloud integration
- control–data plane separation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
