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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">Elsevier Computer Communications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Special Issue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">“Intelligence and Service Orchestration in Next-Generation Mobile Networks”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color:#467886"><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/327227/intelligence-and-service-orchestration-in-next-generation-mobile-networks"><span lang="EN-GB">https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/327227/intelligence-and-service-orchestration-in-next-generation-mobile-networks</span></a></span></u><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">Mobile communication and computing infrastructures are undergoing a profound transformation, moving toward highly dynamic, service-centric ecosystems. Fundamental to this evolution is a novel paradigm for the infrastructure
and service management for 5G-and-beyond networks.<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">Indeed, the architectural paradigm of 5G is shifting toward Open Radio Access Network (RAN), which introduces RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs) for network overseeing and reconfiguring through Artificial Intelligence
(AI) applications able to enhance the overall performance. The shift from monolithic components to virtualized functions through Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and the adoption of Software Defined Networking (SDN) allow the deployment of innovative
solutions that demand flexible orchestration methods.<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">In this context, Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) and Network and Service Orchestration (NSO) play a crucial role by enabling real-time automation and optimization across highly dynamic and heterogeneous network
environments, whilst integrating radio, transport, and core domains under a single control plane. These solutions are apt to tackle key challenges including service provisioning, resource allocation, power consumption, and quality of service. Central to this
scenario is the role of AI, which enables closed-loop network automation and control, predictive management, automated fault detection, and intent-based service delivery. As such, network intelligence is essential for resilient, scalable, and adaptive orchestration
techniques capable of meeting the stringent latency, reliability, and performance requirements of future mobile networks.<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">This Special Issue aims to collect innovations proposed by the research community in the field of Intelligence and Service Orchestration in next-gen mobile networks. These topics and challenges have recently been investigated
by researchers, telco stakeholders, government agencies, and international organizations (e.g. NextGenerationEU, CAMARA).<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>
<ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Management and orchestration architectures and techniques for next-gen networks<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Automation, coordination, management and optimization of network resources and services<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Placement and resource allocation for VNFs<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Resource monitoring and service analytics<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Orchestration solutions for control plane, core, and RAN<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Orchestration in Transport and Multi-Domain Networks<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Enabling technologies for network orchestration<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">AI-based network orchestration<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Closed-loop automation engines in NSO<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Zero-Touch and intent-driven Open RAN orchestration, optimization, control, and management<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">QoS in network orchestration<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">NSO for sustainability<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Resilience, scalability, and adaptability of next-gen networks<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Industry-supported efforts for network optimization<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Integrated Sensing and Communications<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Privacy in orchestration frameworks<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Energy-aware and Sustainable Network Management<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span lang="EN-GB">Testbeds, emulators and benchmarking for orchestration solutions<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<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">The journal's submission platform (Editorial Manager®) will be open for submissions to this Special Issue from October 26, 2025. Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript and select the article
type of “VSI: Intelligent Orchestration in Next-Generation Networks” when submitting your manuscript online. Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal could be found on the Journal Homepage:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="color:#467886"><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/computer-communications"><span lang="EN-GB">https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/computer-communications</span></a></span></u><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">The impact of SI contributions should be clearly demonstrated in the context of the theme of the special issue. Papers that do not directly address this theme are considered out of scope and are subject to immediate rejection.<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"><span lang="EN-GB">Submission Open Date 26/10/2025<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">Final Manuscript Submission Deadline 28/02/2026<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">Editorial Acceptance Deadline 15/09/2026<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"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">***Guest editors***<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">Prof. Abderrahim Benslimane<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">University of Avignon, France<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Email:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="color:#467886"><a href="mailto:abderrahim.benslimane@univ-avignon.fr"><span lang="EN-GB">abderrahim.benslimane@univ-avignon.fr</span></a></span></u><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">Prof. Cristiano Bonato Both<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Email:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="color:#467886"><a href="mailto:cbboth@unisinos.br"><span lang="EN-GB">cbboth@unisinos.br</span></a></span></u><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">Prof. Giang T. Nguyen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Dresden University of Technology, Germany<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Email:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="color:#467886"><a href="mailto:giang.nguyen@tu-dresden.de"><span lang="EN-GB">giang.nguyen@tu-dresden.de</span></a></span></u><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">Prof. Giovanni Stanco<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">University of Naples Federico II, Italy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u><span style="color:#467886"><a href="mailto:giovanni.stanco@unina.it">giovanni.stanco@unina.it</a></span></u><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Prof. Stefania Zinno<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:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u><span style="color:#467886"><a href="mailto:stefania.zinno@unina.it">stefania.zinno@unina.it</a></span></u><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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