B5G/6G Networks: Directions and Advances

Dear Colleagues,

At present, based on the achievements and standardization of 5G, researchers have started to conceptualize beyond-5G (or 6G) networks with the vision of integrating sensing, communication, computation, and control functionalities. To achieve multi-dimensional functionalities, state-of-the-art wireless technologies (e.g., THz communication and millimeter-wave communications) have appeared to promote the development of B5G/6G applications. However, these technologies usually demand high computation capability and communication resources, thereby posing a significant challenge for the design and implementation of B5G/6G systems. To alleviate these challenges, promising techniques such as artificial intelligence (AI), reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs), and new multi-access techniques have emerged for the design and optimization of B5G/6G networks with great promise. Thus, the convergence of these advanced techniques and network design will potentially pave the way toward a sustainable B5G/6G ecosystem.

However, current research on wireless networks cannot fully satisfy the performance requirements of some applications and services of B5G/6G in terms of latency and reliability. In this context, this Special Issue (SI) aims to bring together researchers from academia and industry to explore recent advances on B5G/6G networks design and optimization. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• Wireless resource allocation and mobility management;
• Energy harvesting, power control and wireless power transfer;
• Channel estimation and prediction;
• New multi-access and modulation (NOMA, OTFS, SCMA, etc.);
• B5G/6G-aided Internet-of-Things (IoT);
• Ultra-high reliability and low-latency communications (URLLC);
• Coverage enhancement based on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces;
• Interference avoidance, management, and cancellation techniques;
• New communications and networks technologies, such as visible light communication (VLC), optical networks and aerial access networks;
• Efficient computation offloading technologies;
• Wireless spectrum sensing, localization and signal processing;
• Communication-efficient machine learning techniques (such as transfer learning, federated learning, and deep reinforcement learning);
• Security and privacy issues in B5G/6G communications;
• Testbed, software, and platforms design for supporting B5G/6G networks.

Submit your paper and select the Journal “Signals” and the special issue “B5G/6G Networks: Directions and Advances” via: MDPI submission system. Our papers will be published on a rolling basis and we will be pleased to receive your submission once you have finished it.

Dr. Bo Yang
Dr. Hongliang Zhang
Dr. Shuping Dang
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. Signals is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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.

• artificial intelligence (AI)
• reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs)
• B5G/6G
• mobile/multi-access edge computing
• resource allocation