Wireless World Research and Trends Magazine

Trends for the Wireless World

2026-06-25T10:26:57+02:00

This article presents trends for the wireless world from the perspectives of Nokia Bell Labs based on recent Nokia blogs as well as from the already finalized European level 6G Flagship Hexa-X-II.

Vision of a Future-Ready Enterprise Campus Network

2026-06-26T04:00:29+02:00

Cellular and fixed networks have quietly become the nervous system of modern universities and enterprises. Yet many so-called “campus networks” are still engineered as best-effort LANs rather than as strategic digital infrastructure. As research, teaching and administration increasingly depend on cloud, AI and real-time applications, the enterprise campus network (ECN) must be treated as critical infrastructure requirement, and not just as an IT project. The reference framework diagram above portrays the strategic journey for modernizing enterprise campus networks, balancing high-level policy mandates with concrete technical and operational requirements. For Campus Networks in Malaysia, it moves from foundational policy drivers such as MyDIGITAL and JENDELA, through to specific architectural imperatives like 10GE backbones, Wi-Fi 7, Enterprise 5G and Net5.5G, and IPv6 Enhanced and IPv6-First designs. By connecting these technologies to essential governance structures and through a phased, multi-year implementation plan, the framework provides a clear path toward achieving long-term outcomes. Among the desired outcomes include high-speed scalable connectivity, improved educational research collaboration, cybersecurity maturity, and green ICT sustainability, among others.

Towards a Unified 6G Network Architecture: Principles, Layers, and Key Enabling Technologies

2026-06-26T20:55:37+02:00

Sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks – formally designated IMT-2030 by the ITU – will require a fundamental rearchitecting of how wireless systems are conceived, standardised, and operated. Motivated by application classes that 5G cannot serve, this paper proposes a four-layer 6G network architecture comprising an Intelligent RAN (I-RAN), an AI-Native Core (ANC), a Semantic Communication Plane (SCP), and a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Stratum, unified by a cross-cutting AI/ML orchestration plane and a zero-trust security framework. The paper draws on the Hexa-X use case taxonomy (HEX-D13) [1], the eight architecture principles of HEX-D51 [2], and the 5G PPP functional reference model [3].

Sustainable Digitalization & Connecting the Unconnected

2026-06-11T14:39:21+02:00

This paper presents a framework for sustainable digitalization and entrepreneurial ecosystems for rural areas. Innovation on sustainable ICT technologies to realize affordable broadband connectivity for rural and underserved communities is a crucial component of the effort to achieve the aim of “leaving no one behind by 2030” as championed by the United Nations and the IEEE “connecting the unconnected” initiative. Sustainable digitalization and broadband connectivity requires the creation of a digital entrepreneurial rural ecosystem (DERE) described in to sustain the broadband connectivity infrastructure, develop innovative services and benefit the local rural communities. The paper describes a rural urban social network (RUSN) ecosystem and two interconnected interventions necessary to achieve digital inclusion with rural communities as a vehicle to achieve affordable connectivity and sustainable digitalization. A definition of the framework for sustainability and its application to the RUSN ecosystem partners and components is described. Important concepts including affordability of broadband services, sustainable business models and co-creation of relevant ICT services involving beneficiary rural communities are presented. The sustainable digitalization framework is presented as a proof of concept on rural SMEs and the DERE digital entrepreneurship ecosystem and tested on four sites deployed in South Africa. Discussions on regulatory and policy interventions to enable sustainability and the business models for the DERE ecosystem partners are presented.

Engineering Broadband Connectivity: Wireless Solutions for All

2026-05-05T23:09:56+02:00

Digital connectivity has become essential for enabling access to education, healthcare, career and business opportunities, and economic well-being worldwide. However, the digital divide continues to hinder inclusive access for all. This article presents a concise study on meaningful connectivity, infrastructure gap, usage gap, demand gap, and the integration of space-air-ground integrated networks (SAGIN). Furthermore, there is a need to understand the market drivers in terms of supply, demand, macro-economy, technology, and policy and regulation. This article highlights how these market drivers play a crucial role in widening the global digital divide. We examine the interdependencies among various stakeholders to address the digital divide. This article uniquely integrates technical solutions with socioeconomic perspectives, outlines pathways towards engineering wireless broadband connectivity, and promotes equitable access for all.

Predictive Energy-Aware Uplink Antenna and Link Selection for Multi-Network Cellular User Equipment

2026-06-25T06:05:45+02:00

Modern cellular user equipment (UE) increasingly supports multiple switchable antenna panels and concurrent connectivity to both terrestrial networks (TN) and non-terrestrial networks (NTN), including low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite links. Existing uplink antenna and link selection schemes suffer from three fundamental limitations: they rely on downlink reference signal measurements as proxies for uplink path quality; they delegate selection to the network via capability reporting and scheduling commands; or they minimize only transmit power without accounting for the transient energy costs of antenna switching, retuning, and baseband chain activation. These limitations render existing approaches suboptimal for emerging multi-panel, multi-link UE architectures – particularly wearables and augmented reality (AR) devices with tight thermal budgets and rapidly varying propagation environments. This paper proposes a fully autonomous, UE-side uplink selection framework based on a five-component total energy cost function: Etotal $=$ Etx $+$ Ebaseband $+$ Eswitching $+$ Etuning $+$ Emargin, where Etx is the transmit energy, Ebaseband is the baseband and RF chain activation energy, Eswitching is the antenna panel and link switching transient energy, Etuning is the antenna retuning and settling energy, and Emargin is an uncertainty margin penalty. The selection is performed entirely on-device using internal UE measurements, impedance/VSWR sensing, power amplifier (PA) telemetry, and inertial measurement unit (IMU)/grip sensing – without network assistance. A forward-looking extension over a prediction horizon T uses satellite ephemeris and Doppler trajectory data to minimize cumulative energy expenditure for NTN links. Joint carrier aggregation (CA) and simultaneous TN+NTN multi-link selection are addressed within the same framework. Hysteresis is enforced by conditioning switching events on the criterion that the reduction in Etx and Ebaseband exceeds the sum of Eswitching and Etuning by a programmable margin. Analytical results demonstrate the validity of the proposed framework across a range of multi-panel and multi-link UE scenarios.

High-Frequency Dual-Band Super-Compact MIMO Antenna for Resilient 5G Vehicular Communications

2026-04-05T20:36:28+02:00

In 5G vehicular services, advanced antenna systems are essential to deliver robust, reliable, and efficient wireless links under real driving conditions. Vehicles operate in highly dynamic and interference-prone radio environments, where signals are frequently obstructed by surrounding objects and rapidly changing mobility patterns. Moreover, the limited physical space available for on-board electronics further constrains antenna design. These factors collectively hinder the deployment of reliable high-capacity links, highlighting the need for advanced, compact, and resilient antenna systems tailored for vehicular communications. To meet these constraints, this paper presents a high-frequency, dual-band, super-compact MIMO antenna designed for resilient 5G vehicular communications. The proposed antenna is designed on 0.51 mm RO4350B substrate and operates in two widely separated bands 8–11 GHz (microwave band) and 24–34 GHz (mmWave band) so that a single element can support both dependable coverage and high-capacity services. The design incorporates five vertical slots integrated with three horizontal slots on patch while a partial ground plane with a square slot is incorporated on ground plane. In the 8–11 GHz range, the antenna achieves a peak gain of 4.64–5.99 dBi while in the 24–34 GHz, it provides a peak gain of 4.7–6.4 dBi, enabling high data rates and low latency for demanding applications. Across both ranges, the antenna maintains >90% radiation efficiency, while isolation between radiating elements exceeds −19 dB, ensuring reliable and energy-efficient operation. The design features a 25×10×0.51 mm3 footprint on an RO4350B substrate, making it well-suited to space-constrained vehicular platforms. Furthermore, experimental validation and link-budget analysis on a vehicular model confirm the antenna’s promising performance. By combining dual-band functionality, high efficiency, compact dimensions, and validated performance, the proposed antenna addresses user needs, service requirements, and high-frequency technology demands essential for next-generation, resilient 5G vehicular communication systems. Its dual-band capability enhances spectrum flexibility and supports diverse vehicular communication scenarios, including advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity, and high-data-rate services.