Prof. Emil Björnson (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden)

Talk Title: Massive Near-Field Spatial Multiplexing: Higher Capacity Without More Bandwidth

Abstract: The demand for wireless data traffic is steadily growing, thus, increasing the network capacity must remain the center point of the 6G network development. In the 5G era, we have witnessed how the attempts to build high-capacity cellular networks in the mmWave bands have largely failed. The key example is South Korea, which discontinued these networks in 2023. As we are running out of spectrum suitable for wide-area connectivity, we must search for alternative ways to cater to the exponential traffic growth. In this talk, we will examine whether enhancement in the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology can lead the way. The concepts of radiative near-field propagation with spherical wavefronts, finite-depth beamforming, and spatial degrees of freedom will be explained and connected to the physical antenna array dimensions. We will conclude on whether massive spatial multiplexing is an untapped resource that can boost the capacity of 6G networks, and what MIMO functionality we can expect in the first 6G deployments.

Prof. Luca Sanguinetti (Pisa University, Italy)

Talk Title: Towards 6G MIMO

Abstract: The ever-increasing demand for wireless data transmission has been a major catalyst for the adoption of Massive MIMO technology in 5G. Rather than simply expanding the use of spectrum, Massive MIMO maximizes spatial resources to improve performance. As the demand for ubiquitous, high-capacity wireless access continues to grow, the transition to Ultra Massive MIMO (UM-MIMO) in the 6G era becomes a natural progression. This talk will explore this transformative evolution, emphasizing that it involves much more than just increasing the number of antennas. It introduces new challenges and opportunities that can only be addressed by integrating communication theory, electromagnetics, and circuit design. In addition, the talk will cover the application of UM-MIMO in modern satellite communication networks, with a focus on spatial multiplexing techniques and advanced array architectures.

Dr. Yansha Deng (King's College London, United Kingdom)

Talk Title: Goal-oriented Semantic Communications in 6G Era 

Abstract: Inspired by Shannon’s classic information theory, Weaver and Shannon proposed a more general definition of a communication system involving three different levels of problems, namely, (i) transmission of bits (the technical problem); (ii) semantic exchange of transmitted bits (the semantic problem); and (iii) effect of semantic information exchange (the effectiveness problem). The first level of communication, which is the transmission of bits, has been well studied and realized in conventional communication systems based on Shannon’s bit-oriented technical framework. However, with the massive deployment of emerging devices, including Extended Reality (XR) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), diverse tasks with stringent requirements pose critical challenges to traditional bit-oriented communications, which are already approaching the Shannon physical capacity limit. This imposes the Sixth Generation (6G) network towards a communication paradigm shift to semantic level and effectiveness level by exploiting the context of data and its importance to the task and the goal of communications. An explicit and systematic communication framework incorporating both semantic level and effectiveness level has not been proposed yet. Thus, my talk will discuss our recent results related to goal-oriented communications for future 6G wireless networks, where I will focus on goal-oriented and semantic communication solutions for diverse data types of mobile robotic, robotic arms, image, and video,  and extended reality.

Prof. Wei Yu (University of Toronto, Canada)

Talk Title: Massive Random Access with Massive MIMO (remote)

Abstract: Massive random access for machine-type communications is one of the key use cases for future 5G/6G cellular communication networks. In this talk, I will describe the system model, problem formulation, algorithmic development, and performance analysis for the massive connectivity scenarios in which a large number of sporadically activated devices aim to communicate with a base-station. We first show that the problem of detecting the device activity patterns together with estimating the channels using pilots can be formulated as a compressed sensing problem and can be solved using an approximate message passing (AMP) algorithm. Alternatively, if we do not need to estimate the channels, it is possible to take advantage of channel hardening in the massive MIMO regime and to use a covariance-based approach to detect the device activities with fewer number of pilots. Assuming that the active users are detected correctly, we then investigate the question of the fundamental limit on the minimum feedback needed for collision-free scheduling in a massive random access scenario. We compare scheduled random-access with the classic carrier-sensing multiple access, and illustrate how feedback can significantly improve the design of the overall massive random access scheme.

Dr. Onur Dizdar (VIAVI Solutions Inc., United Kingdom) 

Talk Title: Rate Splitting Multiple Access: Paving the Way to Next Generation of Networks 

Abstract: Rate-Splitting Multiple Access (RSMA) has been shown to address the shortcomings of existing multiple-access technologies. The flexible framework of RSMA creates opportunities to serve as an enabling technology for a wide range of applications. In this talk, we are going to discuss promising use cases and other enabling technologies that has the potential to motivate the adoption of RSMA into next generation wireless communications standards. Next, the details of an RSMA-based system design for overloaded multi-antenna systems for use cases involving dense networks will be provided. The talk will be concluded by a video demonstration of a practical implementation of RSMA in overloaded networks and its performance compared with that of Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA) with user scheduling.

Prof. Eduard A. Jorswieck (Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany) 

Talk Title: Next Generation Multiple Access for Intelligent Multifunctional Networks

Abstract: The pressure to develop new network architectures and multiple access technologies is driven by increasing demands on network performance, number of devices, network traffic and use cases. Recent advances in open radio access networks with open interfaces and software-defined networking features allow adaptability in terms of medium access control and physical layer, but also flexibility in terms of network architectures. This presentation will discuss the evolution from orthogonal to spatial division multiple access (SDMA), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and rate splitting multiple access (RSMA) techniques and their performance guarantees. Recent advances towards multi-connectivity, cloud RAN and cell free multiple access (CFMA) are explained. The data rate benefits of an anecdotal open RAN network will be developed and the corresponding user performance illustrated. We will demonstrate that a joint design of fronthaul and radio access using flexible multiple access technologies achieves significant performance gains compared to separate static traditional designs.

Prof.  Christos Masouros (University College London, United Kingdom)

Talk Title: TBC

Abstract: TBC

Prof. Marco Di Renzo (CNRS, Centrale Supelec, France)

Talk Title: TBC

Abstract: TBC