Advances and Future Trends in 6G and Next-Generation Wireless Communication Networks

Dear Colleagues,

The evolution of mobile and wireless communication technologies continues to drive global digital transformation. As 5G networks reach widespread deployment, attention is rapidly shifting to the development of sixth-generation (6G) cellular systems, which promise to deliver unprecedented performance in data rate, latency, connectivity, and intelligence.

6G is envisioned to enable data rates exceeding terabits per second, sub-millisecond latency, and ubiquitous connectivity across terrestrial, aerial, and satellite environments. It will leverage artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), and terahertz (THz) communication to realize truly intelligent and adaptive networks. These capabilities will empower next-generation applications such as immersive extended reality (XR), tactile internet, digital twins, autonomous mobility, and smart cities.

Understanding and developing these advanced wireless paradigms are of high scientific importance, as they bridge communication theory, AI, and system engineering. Research in this field is crucial to overcoming challenges in energy efficiency, spectrum scarcity, standardization, and interoperability, ensuring that 6G evolves into a sustainable and inclusive global communication framework.

The aim of this Special Issue on “Advances and Future Trends in 6G and Next-Generation Wireless Communication Networks” is to present recent advances, innovative concepts, and emerging directions in the design and optimization of 6G and beyond wireless systems.

Aligned with the scope of journals focusing on mobile, wireless, and broadband communication technologies, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for academic researchers, industry experts, and practitioners to share high-quality contributions that advance both theoretical foundations and practical implementations.

By emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration among communication engineers, data scientists, and system architects, this Special Issue will highlight the convergence of communication systems with AI, edge computing, quantum communication, and network intelligence, thereby laying the foundations for future wireless ecosystems.

This Special Issue welcomes original research papers, technical reviews, and visionary perspectives in (but not limited to) the following areas:

• 6G system architectures, frameworks, and standardization;
• AI-enabled wireless communication and intelligent resource allocation;
• Channel modelling and propagation at mmWave, sub-THz, and THz frequencies;
• Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) and smart radio environments;
• AI-controlled MIMO and massive MIMO for 6G;
• Network slicing, virtualization, and orchestration in multi-service networks;
• Edge, fog, and cloud-native computing for real-time decision-making;
• Quantum communication and physical-layer security;
• Integration of terrestrial, aerial, and satellite networks;
• Energy-efficient and sustainable communication systems;
• Ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) and industrial IoT;
• AI-enhanced signal processing and adaptive channel modeling;
• 6G standardization efforts and 3GPP evolution;
• Standalone 6G network design and optimization;
• Applications in smart cities, autonomous systems, healthcare, and extended reality (XR).

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Triantafyllos Kanakis
Dr. Charan Litchfield
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• 6G communication systems
• AI-enabled wireless networks
• AI-enabled channel modelling
• reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS)
• massive MIMO and intelligent beamforming
• network slicing and virtualization
• edge–fog–cloud computing integration
• quantum communication and security
• terrestrial–aerial–satellite network convergence
• energy-efficient and sustainable communications
• ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC)