The advent of 6G technology marks the beginning of an era defined by intelligent, open, and highly programmable networks that cater to a wide array of services across different verticals. These networks are expected to seamlessly integrate advanced AI-driven solutions to address the demands of both human and machine communications, while ensuring flexibility, efficiency, and security. The intelligent and programmable capabilities of 6G, particularly in the Radio Access Network (RAN), represent a significant shift from traditional network designs, enabling unprecedented levels of autonomy, adaptability, and performance optimization. 

INTRAN Workshop on Intelligent and Programmable Open 6G Radio Access Networks aims to bring together leading researchers, practitioners, and industry experts to explore the potential and challenges associated with the deployment of intelligent and programmable RANs in 6G. As the next-generation RAN architecture evolves, integrating AI/ML techniques, software-defined networking (SDN), and network function virtualization (NFV) will be crucial in realizing dynamic and context-aware network operations. This workshop will focus on the critical role of programmability and intelligence in achieving key 6G objectives such as ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB). Additionally, the workshop will explore the integration of Open RAN standards, enabling innovation, interoperability, and openness in 6G networks. The openness and programmability promoted by Open RAN also introduce new security challenges that must be addressed to ensure the robustness and reliability of these networks. This workshop will delve into how programmable and intelligent systems can be designed to not only enhance performance but also fortify security, focusing on developing strategies to protect against emerging threats in an open and decentralized RAN environment. The discussion will include secure by design principles, AI-driven threat detection, and mitigation strategies tailored for the unique challenges posed by the open and programmable nature of 6G ORANs.  

The INTRAN workshop invites submissions on a wide range of topics related to intelligent and programmable 6G RANs, including but not limited to:

• Technologies, concepts, and theories for integrated AI and 6G ORANs. 

• AI, machine learning, and deep learning for intelligent 6G ORANs.  

• Programmability in 6G RANs for enabling flexibility, scalability, and innovation.  

• AI-driven security frameworks for open and programmable 6G RANs.  

• Federated learning and decentralized AI approaches for secure 6G RANs.  

• AI-enabled network automation, self-optimization, and self-healing in 6G.  

• Secure-by-design principles for open RAN architectures in 6G networks.  

• Energy-efficient AI techniques for resource management in 6G RANs.  

• Advanced AI algorithms for real-time decision-making in 6G networks.  

• Generative AI based technologies for 6G ORANs. 

• Open-source implementations and tools for programmable 6G RANs.  

• AI-driven threat detection and mitigation strategies for 6G ORANs.  

• The role of AI in achieving ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) in 6G.  

• Privacy-preserving AI techniques for data security in open 6G RAN environments.  

• Interoperability challenges and solutions in Open RAN and 6G networks.  

• Zero-trust Architecture for 6G ORANs applications and services.  

• Blockchain-enabled zero-trust architectures and frameworks for 6G ORANs.  

• Access management and identity authentication for 6G ORANs.  

• Integrated sensing and communications for 6G ORANs.  

• Causal Reasoning and Semantic Communications for 6G ORANs.   

Papers must be formatted in the standard IEEE two-column format used by the  WCNC  2026 main conference and must not exceed six pages in length (including references).  No more than two (2) additional printed pages (10-point font) may be included in final submissions, and the extra pages (the 7th and 8th pages) will incur an over-length page charge of US$100 for each page. 

All submitted papers will undergo a peer review process, and all accepted papers presented by one of the authors at the workshop will be published in the IEEE  WCNC  2026 proceedings and IEEE Xplore. 

Paper submission link: https://edas.info/N34609

All authors of accepted papers will be required to register for the IEEE WCNC 2026 conference. 

Rates and registration details will be available here.

• Deadline for workshop paper submission: January 12, 2026 (Firm Deadline)

• Acceptance Notification: February 12, 2026

• Deadline for Camera Ready: February 22, 2026