Page 8 - ITU Journal, Future and evolving technologies - Volume 1 (2020), Issue 1, Inaugural issue

ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies, Volume 1 (2020), Issue 1

The paper on “MSICA: Multi-Scale Signal decomposition based on independent component analysis
with application to denoising and reliable multi-channel transmission” examines the invaluable tools
needed in digital signal processing while “SDN-based Sociocast group communications in the Internet
of Things” looks into the literature around introducing new disruptive network-layer solutions to address
the challenges related to traditional group communication solutions which tend to lack control policies
on involved endpoints. Introducing a new paradigm, “The Internet of Metamaterial Things (IoMMT)
and other software enablers” explores how artificial materials with real time tunable physical properties
will significantly enrich the Internet of Things ecosystem. “Design and analysis of a reconfigurable
intelligent meta-surface for vehicular networks” also introduces a new paradigm, this time for vehicular
communications, through the manipulation of electromagnetic waves.

With the COVID-19 pandemic currently ongoing, “A blueprint for effective pandemic mitigation” offers
a timely focus on contact tracing as a traditional method for mitigating pandemics and the associated
challenges. This paper provides a framework on how to contain the spread of a pandemic through the
use of wireless technologies, providing numerical results to show the efficacy of the testing strategy.

Considering the central feature in 5G and beyond systems, network slicing, the paper “Machine
learning-assisted cross-slice radio resource optimization: Implementation framework and algorithmic
solution” provides a description of a feasible implementation framework for deploying ML-assisted
solutions for cross-slice radio resource optimization. Looking towards future networks including 6G,
authors of the paper “6G vision: An ultra-flexible perspective” provide an overview of the potential 6G
key enablers from the flexibility perspective and give a general framework to incorporate these enablers
into future networks. The paper further considers the role of artificial intelligence and integrated sensing
as key enablers within this framework.

Finally, “On the evolution of infrastructure sharing in mobile networks: a survey” provides a complete
picture of infrastructure sharing both over time and in terms of research branches that have stemmed
from it such as performance evaluation and resource management. This survey also highlights the
relation between infrastructure sharing and the decoupling of infrastructure from services, wireless
network virtualization and multi-tenancy in 5G networks. Such relation reflects the evolution of
infrastructure sharing over time and how it has become a commercial reality in the context of 5G.

We do hope that readers will enjoy these papers in the inaugural issue. More details about the journal
can be found at: //1f8a81b9b0707b63-19211.webchannel-proxy.scarabresearch.com/en/journal/j-fet/Pages/default.aspx

Many individuals have contributed to the launching of this journal and the preparation of the inaugural
issue. Primarily, I would like to express my gratitude to the ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao for
entrusting me with the responsibility to lead this Journal as Editor-in-Chief. I would also like to thank
the Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, Chaesub Lee for his support, and
Reinhard Scholl and Alessia Magliarditi who believed in my vision and keenly supported this journal
from day one. The incredible efforts of Alessia cannot be described in words. Her dedication and very
hard work helped to launch this journal successfully. Other team members, Erica Campilongo and
Simiso Dlodlo are the engine of the entire operation and their diligent work is always appreciated.

Our journal’s administration truly reflects the solid base for the success of this new journal.

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