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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">================================================================================<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">CALL FOR PAPERS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Special Session: AI-Native and Data-Driven Management for Next-Generation Networks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Part of the 2026 IEEE International Symposium on Measurement in Networking and Communications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Napoli, Italy - July 13-16, 2026<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://mnc2026.ieee-ims.org/program/special-sessions#session-1-1"><span lang="EN-GB">https://mnc2026.ieee-ims.org/program/special-sessions#session-1-1</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">================================================================================<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">We invite the submission of original research contributions to the Special Session on AI-Native and Data-Driven Management for Next-Generation Networks, organized within the framework of the 2026 IEEE International Symposium
on Measurement in Networking and Communications, held in Napoli, Italy, July 13–16, 2026.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">AI-Native and Data-Driven Management is important and promising for Measurement in Networking since it will enable automatic optimization and network management. Over the years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine
Learning (ML) have become increasingly pervasive in networking and communications, playing a key role in the development, deployment, and management of next-generation networks. Current research trends show how AI can enhance 5G networks at at the RAN, Edge,
and Core layers, using measured data coming from multiple entities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">While AI adoption in 5G has been an evolving process, 6G is envisioned as truly AI-native. The next generation of mobile networks will embed “connected intelligence” throughout its architecture, leveraging AI for network
design, optimization, and autonomous operation. In 6G, AI will not only enhance network performance but also enable and support AI-driven services running seamlessly across the entire network from the user equipment to the network core. Through this AI-native
framework, the network will be capable of analyzing real-time data to jointly orchestrate functions such as scheduling, network slicing, and strategic planning.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">AI technologies in fact, expand new potential in the optimization of the full end-to-end chain of the physical layer, from the transmitter to the receiver, enabling self-optimization by combining advanced sensing and
data collection also introducing the capability to consider network metrics, such as current spectrum, power conditions, and number of connections, evolving because of signal reflections off buildings and weather patterns for constant re-optimization.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Monitoring of real-time environmental and contextual data is a promising enabler for ML-based air interface optimization, leading to more efficient spectrum use and reduced latency.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Not only, nowadays, AI is now further enhanced and made more interpretable through XAI methodologies, which allow us to better understand how the algorithms operate and which features are most relevant for predictions.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">• Measurements for 6G, beyond-5G, and next-generation communications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">• Trustworthy AI and explainable measurement approaches<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">• AI/ML-driven network measurement and diagnostics<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">• Software-defined and virtualized network measurement<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">• Big Data analytics for network traffic, QoS, and QoE evaluation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">• Security, privacy, and reliability network measurements in 5G and 6G<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">***Timeline***<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Paper registration: April 6, 2026<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Initial manuscript deadline: April 6, 2026<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">***Manuscript submission information***<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Authors are invited to submit a Full Paper (4-6 pages) reporting original research of a theoretical or applied nature using the online submission system, EDAS.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">EDAS Submission Link: </span><a href="https://edas.info/N34568"><span lang="EN-GB">https://edas.info/N34568</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Further information available: </span><a href="https://mnc2026.ieee-ims.org/author-information"><span lang="EN-GB">https://mnc2026.ieee-ims.org/author-information</span></a>
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">***Special Session Chairs***<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Prof. Giovanni Stanco<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">University of Naples Federico II, Italy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email: <a href="mailto:giovanni.stanco@unina.it">giovanni.stanco@unina.it</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Prof. Stefania Zinno<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">University of Naples Federico II, Italy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email: <a href="mailto:stefania.zinno@unina.it">stefania.zinno@unina.it</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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