CFP for IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine 
 
(R)Evolution towards 4G Mobile Communication Systems 
 
 
After successful trailing periods, costly spectrum licences auctioning and huge investments in network 
infrastructure, many mobile operators worldwide have gradually started the deployment of 3G mobile/wireless 
networks. Broadband connectivity, interoperability and mobility are the major factors of differentiation, while the 
inherent Internet Protocol (IP) is expected to boost personalized, interactive multimedia services, as well as 
Mobile Internet access. In parallel, emerging Wireless LAN technologies are already deployed within corporate 
and public "hop-spot" locations, capturing a fast growing market with minimum initial investment and operational 
cost. Finally, broadband, QoS aware, wireless RF technologies in the home have opened a bright, new world of 
telecommunications for residential users, introducing a unique opportunity for potential increase of the network 
usage, via added value services.  

All these diverse technologies, along with new truly broadband wireless technologies will lead to and be part of 
the forthcoming 3G+ and future 4G heterogeneous wireless networking environment. The vision of the 3G+/4G 
wireless/mobile systems will be the provision of broadband access, seamless global roaming and 
Internet/Data/Voice everywhere, utilising each time the most "appropriate" technology. The (r)evolutionary path 
towards 4G systems however, requires enhancements and innovations in many areas. Physical layer 
improvements, advanced antenna configurations and space-time processing leading to MIMO systems, the use of 
ever-increasing complex signal processing, modulation schemes and coding algorithms, software radio 
technologies and reconfigurability is just a small list towards the realisation of the 4G transmission systems. The 
development of new wireless application protocols, interworking and seamless interoperability methods and 
standards, along with guaranteed end-to-end QoS provisioning will generate and support new "killer" mobile 
multimedia applications. Last but not least, new methods and middleware platforms for heterogeneous network 
management, resource allocation, billing and service provisioning will preserve operators' investment and turn 4G 
mobile communications into profitable business. 
 
Topics of interest include 
-  Architectures, protocols, and algorithms for QoS aware Mobile Networks. 
-  Cross system location and mobility management, vertical handover and global roaming algorithms. 
-  Physical layer enhancement for 4G networks. 
-  Smart antennas, software radio and reconfigurable hardware-software 4G mobile communication systems. 
-  Platforms and frameworks for network management, service provisioning, resource allocation, and billing 
   of heterogeneous future wireless networks. 
-  Evaluation of preliminary deployed 3G and public Wireless LAN network architectures, algorithms, 
   protocols and platforms for smooth migration to 4G.  
-  Description and evaluation of testbeds and public trials deploying 4G systems. 
-  Regulatory issues and paradigms allowing world-wide roaming and terminal reconfigurability. 
 
Authors are invited to submit their manuscripts as a postscript or pdf email attachment to one of the guest 
editors, highlighting the reference author of the paper. Detailed instructions to authors can be found in:  
http://www.comsoc.org/livepubs/ pci/index.html 
 
Schedule: 
Paper submission deadline: December 15, 2003 
Notification of acceptance: March 31, 2003 
Final papers: April 30, 2003 
Special issue: August 2003 
 
Guest Editors: 
Theodore Zahariadis, Ellemedia/Bell Labs, Greece (zahariad@ellemedia.com) 
Demetrios Kazakos, University of Toledo, USA (kazakos@eecs.utoledo.edu)