Network virtualization has transformed how our infrastructures are connected, built, and operated. Network services often rely on the disaggregation and reconstitution of Network Functions through Network Function Virtualization or NFV. When combined with dynamic and automated network configuration concepts, or Software Defined Networks (SDN), advantages of overall improved performance, reduced vendor lock-in, more rapid adoption of new features, and increased operational efficiency are realized.

Over the past decade, network operators around the globe have demonstrated the advantages of virtualization in portions of the network; yet much work remains to bring these benefits across the communication infrastructure. Research and development of virtualization technologies, from the Radio Access Network to the network core, has the potential to increase resiliency, security, and power efficiency and provide more effective operationalization through automation and Artificial Intelligence.

The recent Cloudification and Cloud/Container Native Functions (CNF) practices continue to challenge network operators and their ecosystem partners from early research and into practice, while new and innovative applications at the edge demand even more attention from industry and academia.  NFV, CNF, and SDN are accepted evolutions in all areas of network concepts and technologies today. They are accelerating the introduction of technologies and applications, requiring further advances in several areas of network programmability and network automation.

Significant enablers for rapid adoption include shifts towards open-source software and hardware development, the convergence of IT and telco tools and technologies, and the alignment of operational processes. Integration of the latest research in software technologies, algorithms, hardware design, etc., driven by competition to adopt the best ideas, is helping to drive global acceptance of network virtualization.

The 2025 IEEE NFV-SDN conference is an important forum for the ongoing exchange of the latest ideas, developments, and results amongst ecosystem partners in both academia and industry focusing on 6G deployment initiatives in worldwide. The conference fosters knowledge sharing and discussion on new approaches and works addressing gaps and improvements in virtualized enabled architectures, algorithms, and operational frameworks for virtualized network functions and infrastructures.

Topics

The IEEE NFV-SDN conference invites researchers worldwide to share ideas influencing the evolution and operation of Network Virtualization, including SDN technologies. Topics include but are not limited to:

Architectures, Infrastructure, and Elements

·Emerging advances in network architecture, including Network Slicing and the unikernel paradigm
·Advances in the design of forwarding elements, e.g., switches/routers, wireless systems
·Optimization of virtualized infrastructures, including hardware acceleration technologies
·Heterogeneous server platforms and detailed element-level CPU/GPU/FPGA mapping of network functions
·SDN/CNF/NFV in recent and novel architecture paradigms
·Architectural design aspects toward Next-Generation wireless networks
·Virtualization Technologies for Edge/Fog Computing
·Microservice-based and agent-based SDN/NFV
·SDN/NFV in 6G three-dimensional networking
·Energy-efficiency driven architectures
·New network programmability paradigms

NFV, CNF, and SDN Operations

· Protocols for virtual network orchestration
·Dynamic license management, autonomics, machine learning, monitoring, resiliency, fault management, and self-healing
·Network security and isolation impacts of virtualization technologies
·Advanced tools for automated design, deployment, validation, and management
·Application of machine learning and big data analytics to manage to simplify deployment and operation of SDN/CNF/NFV networks
·SDN/NFV orchestration and operations in 6G network and cloud continuum

AI/ML in cloud native networks

·AI/ML techniques and network softwarization
· AI/ML network automation
· AI/ML applications for SDN and NFV
· AI/ML enabled SDN/NFV deployments
·Design and performance evaluation of AI/ML techniques in softwarized networks

Softwarized Radio Access Networks and O-RAN

·O-RAN Specifications and Standards
·Softwarization in Radio Access Networks (RAN)
·Challenges and Solutions in O-RAN Deployment
·Integration of AI/ML in O-RAN
·Network Slicing in O-RAN
·O-RAN and 5G Network Performance
·Security Considerations in O-RAN
·Future Trends in Softwarized RAN

Performance Analysis and Optimization

·Costs of migration of application containers and workloads
·Experience building network virtualization testbeds
·Data/control plane performance, interoperability, and scalability studies
·Resource dimensioning and optimization (e.g., cloud-native design), workload isolation, and tradeoffs
·Design guidelines for modularity, scalability, high availability, and interoperability (e.g., container and micro services implementations)
·SDN/NFV new KPIs and trade-offs in 6G architecture

Results and Evaluations in Application Scenarios

·Comparative studies on different virtualization technologies
·Usage scenarios such as SD-WAN, IoT or Smart Grid
·Use of virtualization technologies, including for Smart Cities, Smart and Connected Communities, Smart and Connected Health, Industry Digitalization, other verticals
·Advances in future communication infrastructure enabled by SDN, CNF, and NFV, including fixed and wireless access, public, private and hybrid clouds
·Social and regulatory impacts (e.g., network implications of data location and privacy)
·Operational experience in operational networks (e.g., 5G/6G deployments, AI in Radio Interface Controller)
·Standardization efforts for NFV/SDN advancement and operational deployment