Next-Generation Networks (NGNs) are rapidly advancing into complex, hyper-distributed, and heterogeneous systems. This matrix contains numerous network paradigms, such as 6G wireless systems, Space-Air-Ground-Sea Integrated Networks (SAGSIN), Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN), and other networking solutions that offer state-of-the-art speeds, low latency, and full range coverage. While many of these systems can yield thousands of terabits of data and full coverage communication, all of these systems present extremely challenging problems for researchers. During the design phase of these systems, researchers deal with vast heterogeneity, complex resource allocation, spectrum sharing, and multiple layers of challenges. When these systems are implemented, many challenges remain, such as dealing with different systems being out of sync, too many protocols for routing that no system can keep up with, and disconnects that prevent different systems from communicating with each other. Along with these structural challenges, a security crisis is on the horizon. The emerging quantum computing poses a direct threat to traditional public-key cryptography, which is instigating an urgent need to migrate to Quantum-Safe security architectures. This change is resource-exhaustive Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and requires optimized multi-hop routing for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) links. Meanwhile, data sovereignty regulations are rapidly evolving. These factors result in the need to embed resource-intensive Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) such as Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC), and Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) into data transmission systems and network caching. To eliminate the severe computational bottlenecks caused by the complex interdependencies arising from the optimization, securing, and operating of these networks, the manual management of networks must be replaced by a fundamental approach of network autonomy. APQN 2027 confronts this by addressing the possibilities of new generations of networks using advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI), predictive analytics, Deep Reinforcement Learning and Agentic AI. This workshop offers an internationally leading interdisciplinary forum enabling researchers and practitioners of distributed systems, cryptography, and artificial intelligence to converge in co-designing fully autonomous, quantum-safe, and privacy-preserving next-generation networks.
Venue
Held in conjunction with ICDCN 2027
Address: National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore - 575 025, Karnataka, India