With the large-scale deployment of satellite constellations such as Starlink and the rapid advancement of technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) and non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), the integration of high, medium, and low Earth orbit satellite networks with terrestrial networks has become a critical direction for future communication technologies. The objective is to develop a space-terrestrial integrated 6G network that ensures ubiquitous connectivity and seamless services, facilitating intelligent interconnection and collaborative symbiosis among humans, machines, and objects. This integration has become a central focus of global technological innovation.
Unlike the simple connection capabilities of earlier communication networks, the space-terrestrial integrated 6G network will establish a new communication paradigm, combining connection, computing, and intelligence. This transformation will significantly enhance network performance and service capabilities, addressing the diverse needs of applications such as immersive communication, ultra-large-scale connections, ultra-reliable low-latency communications, the integration of communication and intelligence, integration of perception and communication, and ubiquitous connectivity.
However, current satellite and terrestrial networks face significant challenges such as complex architectures and diminishing marginal utilities. Therefore, it is crucial to develop an efficiency-first architecture for space-terrestrial integrated 6G network, along with networking and transmission technologies that cater to specific scenarios. These technologies must integrate multidimensional capabilities—such as connection, perception, intelligence, computing, and security—and pave the way for the wisdom-evolutionary and primitive-concise network architectures. Furthermore, intelligent collaboration among satellite-ground and inter-satellite nodes, as well as intelligent resource allocation methods for communication, computing, and storage, should be explored to achieve efficient, scalable, and adaptable networking and transmission.
This special issue invites high-quality and original research papers that focus on pivotal technical areas, including space-terrestrial integrated 6G network architectures, standards and specifications, native intelligence, efficient networking solutions, on-demand communication, and digital twin technologies. The call for papers highlights the following major themes and research directions:
Topics include (but not limited to):
● Architecture, standards, protocols, and applications for space-terrestrial integrated 6G network
● Techniques for sharing and efficient utilization of frequency and orbit resources in space-terrestrial integrated 6G network
● Intelligent orchestration and configuration of computing and communication resources in space-terrestrial integrated 6G network
● Elastic networking solutions for space-terrestrial integrated 6G network
● On-demand communication in space-terrestrial integrated 6G network
● Intelligent transmission technologies for space-terrestrial integrated 6G network
● Digital twin technologies for space-terrestrial integrated 6G network
● Efficient mobility management technology for space-terrestrial integrated 6G network
● High-performance onboard intelligent processing technologies
● Onboard programmable data plane technologies
● Advanced beamforming and management technologies
● Long-term stable high-speed inter-satellite laser link technologies
Schedule
Submission Deadline: July 15, 2025
Acceptance Notification (1st round): August 25, 2025
Minor Revision Due: September 25, 2025
Final Decision Due: October 15, 2025
Final Manuscript Due: October 30, 2025
Publication Date: January 15, 2026
Guest editors
Linling Kuang, Tsinghua University, China
Jianxiu Wang, China Telecom Research Institute, China
Jianhua Zhang, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China
Shuai Wang, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
Submission guidelines
This special issue focuses on satellite Internet and aims to publish cutting-edge research on space-terrestrial integrated 6G network architectures, as well as advancements in networking and transmission technologies.
Papers should be submitted in two separate .doc files (preferred) or .pdf files: 1) Main Document (including paper title, abstract, key words, and full text); 2) Title page (including paper title, author affiliation, acknowledgement and any other information related with the authors’ identification) through the Manuscript Central. Please register or login at http://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/chinacomm, then go to the author center and follow the instructions there. Remember to select “Space-Terrestrial Integrated 6G Network: Architecture, Networking, and Transmission Technologies—January Issue 2026” as your manuscript type when submitting; otherwise, it might be considered as a regular paper.