<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br clear="all"></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align:center"><b>Managing Next-Generation Networks for Intelligent Services and Applications</b></div><div style="text-align:center"><b><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><i></i></span><i>IEEE Network</i></b></div><div style="text-align:center"><a href="https://www.comsoc.org/publications/magazines/ieee-network/cfp/managing-next-generation-networks-intelligent-services-and" target="_blank">https://www.comsoc.org/publications/magazines/ieee-network/cfp/managing-next-generation-networks-intelligent-services-and</a></div><div style="text-align:center"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt 0cm 6pt;text-align:justify;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Next-Generation Networks
(NGNs) integrate the functionalities of a plethora of established and emerging
technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), edge intelligence,
network softwarization, and data-plane programmability. NGNs promise to achieve
ultra-fast data rates and minimal latency in wireless communication and
networking. It enables smart and autonomous services and applications through
AI and Machine Learning (ML). Coupled with advances in user end-devices, NGNs enable
a plethora of smart services and user-defined applications. Given the rise in
system complexity and the exponential increase in the amount of data exchanged through
networks, new state-of-the-art NGN management solutions are needed. By adapting
cooperative and distributed management solutions, more reliable and efficient services
and applications are conveyed to the end-users. Moreover, with distributed
learning solutions, NGN’s could be optimized to support the dynamic nature in network
configuration and enable end-to-end system automation. For instance, the
integration of Federated Learning (FL), Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL), and Blockchain
to NGNs can support scalable, secure and diversified services and applications.
Furthermore, through data plane programmability, network intelligence could be
implemented directly on programmable devices with the network core. An
intelligent forwarding plane would enable a faster reaction to network events
without depending on a time-consuming exchange between the data and control
planes.</span></p>

<div style="text-align:left;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;text-align:justify">In this special issue, we welcome original research that approaches
novel and state-of-the-art future network and system management solutions that
will ensure reliable, secure, efficient and autonomous services and
applications. Researchers, practitioners, developers, and industry experts are
invited to contribute to one of the scopes of the special issue, including, but
not limited to, the following:</span></div><div style="text-align:left"><ul style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Intelligent
service orchestration and management.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Secure
application and service provisioning in next-generation networks.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Smart
management architectures for next-generation routing and switching.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Intelligent
network and service virtualization.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Intelligent
network slicing.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Distributed
intelligence for next-generation network orchestration and management.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Distributed
and federated learning on edge devices to support NGN management.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Blockchain
solutions to support service delivery in NGN.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Secure
and trustworthy operations and management for next-generation networks.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Big
and real-time data management and analytics for network operations.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:center;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Federated
Learning-aided next-generation multiple access.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Architectures
for next-generation routing and switching.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">FL-aided
next generation circuit and packet switching.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Emerging
services and applications management for connected vehicles technologies.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Applications
and services using UAVs to support autonomous vehicles in B5G networks.</span></li></ul><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:6pt 0cm;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Submission Deadline:</span></b></p>

<ul><li>Submission deadline: <b><font color="#ff0000">September 30, 2021</font></b></li><li>First-round notification: November 15, 2021</li><li>Second round due: December 15, 2021</li><li>Final notification: January 15, 2022</li><li>Publication Date: May 2022</li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt 0cm 6pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Guest
Editors:</span></b></p>

<ul><li>Moayad Aloqaily, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.</li><li>Hichem Sedjelmaci, Orange Labs, Châtillon, France.</li><li>Weverton Cordeiro, INF/UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.</li><li>Lewis Tseng, Boston College, USA.</li><li>Qian Zhang, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China.</li></ul></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" color="#0000ff"><i>Best Regards</i></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" color="#0000ff"><i>Moayad Aloqaily, Ph.D., P.Eng.</i></font></div></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><div style="font-size:small"><font color="#0000ff" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><i><a href="http://icnetlab.org/MA/" target="_blank">http://icnetlab.org/MA/</a></i></span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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