Call for Papers

Recently, extensive research efforts have been dedicated to develop fifth -generation (5G) wireless mobile networks aimed at providing ubiquitous connections for anyone and anything irrespective of time and location. The number of connected devices and data traffic is increasing exponentially every day, and future data-intensive applications like AR/VR, holographic communications, V2X, autonomous driving, high precision manufacturing, and ultra-massive machine-type communications would demand high throughput, ultra-reliable transmission, extremely low latency and high energy efficiency. 6G is expected to extend 5G capabilities to higher levels where millions of connected devices and applications could operate seamlessly with trust, low-latency and high-bandwidth. Thus, major research is now focused on three areas: ultra-reliable and low latency communications (uRLLC); enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB); and massive Internet of Things (mIoT) in 6G wireless communications.

Ultra-reliable and low latency communications is perhaps the most challenging task because of its demanding requirements of low latency combined with ultra-high reliability. Using more resources to increase reliability will in turn increase the latency, and therefore a combination of various technologies like software-defined networking (SDN), virtual network slicing, and physical layer technologies, are currently experimented for achieving uRLLC with various applications. This Special Issue (SI) will solicit high-quality papers reporting on new techniques and concepts, standards, future applications, novel physical-layer solutions, network architectures, resource allocation schemes, other issues, challenges, and promising solutions for ultra-high speed, low latency and reliable communications in 6G network. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to:

• Key drivers and requirements for URLLC in 6G
• Breakthrough technologies and concepts for URLLC in 6G
• Low-power transmission designs for URLLC in 6G
• Cross-layer optimization techniques for URLLC in 6G
• Spectrum requirements and channel modelling for URLLC
• Multi-access Edge computing for URLLC
• Innovative NOMA solutions for 6G
• Space-air-ground integrated networks for URLLC
• Network/Resource slicing and network functions virtualization
• Advanced Physical layer technologies for URLLC in 6G
• Deep learning for radio resource management in URLLC
• Commercial use cases and future applications for URLLC in 6G
• Interoperability, standards, service provisioning
• Prototype and Test Beds for URLLC in 6G
• Future perspectives of URLLC for 6G

Submission Guidelines

Manuscripts should conform to the standard format as indicated in the Information for Authors section of the Paper Submission Guidelines.

All manuscripts to be considered for publication must be submitted by the deadline through Manuscript Central. Select the “Ultra-low Latency and Reliable Communications for Future Wireless Networks” topic from the drop-down menu of Topic/Series titles.

Important Dates

Manuscript Submission Deadline: Open
Final Manuscript Due: 1 April
Publication Date: June

Manuscript Submission Deadline: Open
Final Manuscript Due: 1 January
Publication Date: March

Series Editors

Muhammad Ikram Ashraf
Nokia Bell Labs, Finland

Mohsen Guizani
Qatar University, Qatar

Varun G. Menon
SCMS School of Engineering and Technology, India

Shahid Mumtaz
Instituto de Telecomunicações, Portugal