A Brief Description of the Aims and Objectives

Currently, 5G mobile communication systems is a major global research area in academia and industry with a wide scope from radio physical layer technologies in many different frequency bands, advanced radio spectrum access methods for better exploitation of available frequency bands and very flexible network architectures and management. 5G is now in the international standardization and development phase. Compared to former systems like 3G and 4G/LTE, which were mainly designed for communication between humans and mobile Internet access 5G is extending the application domains especially to vertical sectors in society and economy. That results in a wide range of system requirements beyond today’s systems, which need an advanced very flexible network architecture. However, with respect to the huge installed base architectural changes are introduced in an evolutionary manner.

Research on systems beyond 5G is under preparation. From the today’s perspective the focus will be on advanced network architectures by increasingly introducing means of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning as well as advanced software technologies to manage the growing complexity. In addition, new means like nanodevices and bio-nano-things are extending today’s communication and open new application domains; Blockchain technology and quantum computing are promising concepts for improved network security. Such “Smart Networks” are significantly extending future communication.

Contributions are expected, which will address the further development of communication networks in the next decade. Major areas are – but not limited to:

• Advances in radio technology (e.g. massive MIMO implementation, Terahertz systems)
• New means of sensors and short-range communication such as bio and nano-things
• Flexible network architecture, which will provide a very wide range of system and application requirements
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in future communication network architectures (e.g. for data analytics, network management, etc.)

Keywords:

• Advanced communication network architecture,
• Artificial Intelligence,
• Machine Learning,
• Network management,
• Advanced radio technologies