The 2nd International Workshop on Open Radio Access Networks
Architectural disaggregation, standardized open interfaces, and ecosystem-led innovation for the future of mobile networks. Held with IEEE ICC 2026.
Call for Papers
After a successful first edition of the Open RAN workshop at WCNC 2025 we are holding the second edition at ICC 2026.
Open RAN has accelerated from concept to deployment reality, reshaping the global RAN landscape through architectural disaggregation, standardised open interfaces, and an ecosystem-led innovation model. With the rise of software-driven networks, RIC-native intelligence, and AI-enabled automation, the research frontier now spans from real-time control and vendor interoperability to conflict mitigation, security assurance, orchestration, spectrum efficiency, and policy frameworks that enable fair adoption at scale.
This workshop provides a premier venue to discuss breakthroughs in Open RAN architectures, optimization, theory, systems, hardware/software codesign and field deployments. We welcome high-quality contributions on both theoretical advances and practical implementations including working prototypes, trial reports, live testbed results and reproducible experimental frameworks.
Submissions addressing spectrum economics, market regulation, and cross-domain policy for global Open RAN adoption are also strongly encouraged.
Topics of Interest
We welcome submissions across a wide range of topics in Open RAN research.
RIC Architecture, Near-RT and Non-RT Control
xApp/rApp Interoperability and Marketplace Design
xApp/rApp Conflict Detection, Avoidance, and Resolution
Explainable, Causal, and Safe AI in Open RAN
Foundation Models and Transformer-based Control for RAN
Digital Twin-based RAN Optimization and Predictive Control
Testbeds, Simulators, and Open-Source O-RAN Stacks
O-Cloud Acceleration, RAN Virtualisation and Observability
RAN Slicing, SLA Enforcement and Closed-Loop Assurance
Multi-Agent RL for Scheduling, Handover, and Traffic Steering
Energy-Efficient RAN, Carbon-Aware Scheduling, Sleep Modes
Security, Zero-Trust O-RAN, and Supply-Chain Attestation
Confidentiality and Privacy in rApp/xApp Inference Workflows
Spectrum Sharing, Economics, and Policy for Open RAN Adoption
Cross-Vendor Interoperability for Massive MIMO and OpenFAPI
Open RAN Backhaul/Fronthaul over PON and Optical Networks
NTN/LEO-Integrated Open RAN Architectures for 6G
Resource Marketplaces, SLA-Aware Bidding and Federation
Production-Grade Operational Insights from Trials and Deployments
Benchmark Datasets, Evaluation Metrics and Reproducible Research
TPC Co-Chairs
Meet the technical program committee chairs who will oversee the paper review and selection process.
Nima Afraz
Mohammad Shojafar
Hamed Ahmadi
Technical Program Committee
Distinguished researchers and experts contributing to the technical review process.
Important Dates
Mark your calendar with these important deadlines for the workshop.
Submit your original research papers through the EDAS submission system.
Authors will be notified of paper acceptance decisions.
Submit your camera-ready papers with all revisions addressed.
Join us in Glasgow, Scotland for presentations and networking.
Submission Details
Guidelines and requirements for paper submission to the Open RAN Workshop.
Page Limit
The page length limit for all initial submissions is SIX (6) printed pages (10-point font). Papers exceeding this limit will be rejected without review.
Language
All submissions must be written in English and follow the IEEE ICC 2026 formatting guidelines.
Publication
Accepted and presented papers will be included in the IEEE ICC 2026 Conference Proceedings and submitted to IEEE Xplore®.
Submission link will be provided via EDAS. For further details, visit the IEEE ICC 2026 website.