Digital Communications and Networks publishes rigorously peer-reviewed, high quality original articles and authoritative reviews that focus on communication systems and networks. All articles are published fully Open Access on ScienceDirect. The journal is indexed by Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Scopus.

Conference papers may be accepted if they have been substantially extended. Special issues of the journal that focus on a particular aspect of the field are also occasionally published.

Special areas of interest include but are not limited to:

    AI-Driven Communications and Networks
    Big Data Networking and Applications
    Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies
    Cellular Communications and Networks
    Coding and Information Theory
    Communications and Networking Standards
    Consumer Communications and Networking
    Cyber-Physical Systems
    Edge, Fog, and Cloud Computing and Networks
    Future Internet Architecture, Protocols, and Applications
    Green Communications
    Industrial Internet and Industry 4.0
    Internet of Things
    Intelligent Communications and Networking Systems
    Network, Service, and Applications Management
    Optical Communications and Networking
    Pervasive Computing and Networking
    Quantum Computing, Communications, and Information
    Satellite Communications and Networking in Space
    Trust, Security, and Privacy Protocols
    Unified Communications, Computing, and Control
    Vehicular Communications and Networks
    Wireless Communications and Networking
    Wireless Sensor Networks

Special Issue on Advancing Communication Networks and Systems with Secure and Robust AI
Submission Date: 2025-12-01

The evolution of communication networks and systems, particularly in sixth-generation (6G) mobile infrastructures, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, leads to unprecedented hyper-connectivity and voluminous data-handling capabilities. However, realizing this vision is contingent upon overcoming cirtical challenges in design, autonomous operation, and robust security. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have emerged as important enablers to navigate these complexities.

Guest editors:

    Prof. Chunxiao Jiang (lead Guest Editor), Tsinghua University, China . Email: jchx@tsinghua.edu.cn
    Prof. Shangguang Wang, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China . Email: sgwang@bupt.edu.cn
    Zehui Xiong, Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom. Email: zehui_xiong@sutd.edu.sg
    Prof. Quan Zhou, Beihang University, China. Email: quanzhou@buaa.edu.cn

Special issue information:

The evolution of communication networks and systems, particularly in sixth-generation (6G) mobile infrastructures, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, leads to unprecedented hyper-connectivity and voluminous data-handling capabilities. However, realizing this vision is contingent upon overcoming cirtical challenges in design, autonomous operation, and robust security. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have emerged as important enablers to navigate these complexities.

This Special Issue is dedicated to fostering an exploration of the symbiotic relationship between advanced communication networks/systems and the principles of trustworthy AI. We seek contributions on the foundational underpinnings of responsible and effective deployment of AI within these digital infrastructures, aiming to catalyze the convergence of theoretical AI advancements with the operational demands of future communication ecosystems.

Manuscript submission information:

Important dates:

· Submission deadline: December 1st, 2025
· First notification: February 1st, 2026
· Revised version deadline: March 15th, 2026
· Final notification: May 15th, 2026
· Publication date: July 2026

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online via the editorial management system; please select article type “Advancing Comms AI”.

Keywords:

· Intelligent Future Internet Architectures and Network Management
· Trust, Security, and Privacy in AI-Augmented Communication Networks and Systems
· AI Applications in Cloud Computing and Distributed Networked Systems
· Advancing Next-Generation Communication Technologies
· Reliability, Resilience, and Performance in AI-Powered Mission-Critical and Cyber-Physical Systems
· Big Data Networking and Data-Driven Intelligence for Enhanced Communication Systems
· AI-native network designs and autonomous control
· Privacy-enhancing technologies for network operations
· AI for IoT, V2X, Industrial Internet, and Satellite Communications