The 2024 International Conference on Future Communication Networks (FCN 2024), the second edition of this event, co-hosted by the FuTURE Mobile Communication Forum and the University of Malta, with technical sponsorship from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), took place successfully in Valletta, Malta, from November 18 to 22, 2024.

FCN 2024 provided an international exchange platform for researchers and experts from academia and industry to present the latest research achievements and academic advancements in the field of future communications and networks. The conference received paper submissions from over 60 universities, research institutions, and companies across 15 countries and regions, including China, Malta, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, Canada, the UAE, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), and Taiwan (China).

After a rigorous review process by the jury, 53 papers were selected for presentation at FCN 2024. The authors of these papers came from the institutions outside China: University of Malta, EURECOM (France), University of Surrey (UK), University of Essex (UK), Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden), California State University (US), Columbia University (US), Idaho State University (US), Auburn University (US), Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada), Carleton University (Canada), Khalifa University of Science and Technology (UAE), CNIT (Italy), University of Genoa (Italy), University of Patras (Greece), University of Ioannina (Greece), University of Nicosia (Cyprus), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Technical University of Sofia (Bulgaria); and the institutions and companies in China: Tsinghua University, Peking University, Southeast University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, University of Science and Technology of China, Beijing Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Tianjin University, Xidian University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shanghai University, Tongji University, East China Normal University, Shandong University, Zhejiang University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Anhui Normal University, Nanjing University, Fujian Normal University, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Huawei, ZTE, CICT Mobile, China Mobile Research Institute, Peng Cheng Laboratory, Zhijiang Lab, State Grid, Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (Chinese Academy of Sciences), and China Academy of Space Technology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, National Taiwan University, and National Taipei University of Technology.

FCN 2024 featured 8 keynote speeches, 10 thematic parallel sessions, and 1 thematic seminar. During the opening ceremony, several prominent figures delivered speeches, including: Academician You Xiaohu, Conference Chair; Professor Simon Fabri, Director of the Corporate Research and Knowledge Transfer Office of the University of Malta; Zhang Xinsheng, Executive Vice President of the FuTURE Mobile Communication Forum; and Zheng Jun, Chair of the Technical Program Committee (TPC) and Professor at Southeast University.

▲ Zheng Jun, Chair of the TPC and Professor at Southeast University, chairs the meeting and delivers a speech

▲ Academician You Xiaohu, Conference Chair, delivers a speech

▲ Professor Simon Fabri, Director of the Corporate Research and Knowledge Transfer Office of the University of Malta, delivers a speech

▲ Zhang Xinsheng, Executive Vice President of the FuTURE FORUM, delivers a speech

▲ Vice President Zhang Xinsheng awards the 2024 FCN Outstanding Contribution certificate to Professor Saviour Zammit, Head of the Department of Communications and Computer Engineering at the University of Malta

The keynote session featured presentations from distinguished experts, including: Dr. Chih-Lin I, Chief Scientist at China Mobile Research Institute; Dr. Marco Di Renzo, Professor at University of Paris-Saclay, France; Regius. Rahim Tafazolli, Royal Professor at University of Surrey, UK; Dr. Aylin Yener, Professor at Ohio State University, USA; Dr. Mohamed-Slim Alouini, Professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia; Dr. Peiying Zhu, Senior Vice President of Huawei Canada Wireless Research; Dr. Geoffrey Li, Professor at Imperial College London, UK; and Dr. Sumei Sun, I2R of A*STAR Institute, Singapore.

▲ Professor Victor Buttigieg from the University of Malta presides over the keynote speeches of Dr. Chih-Lin I and Professor Marco Di Renzo

▲ Dr. Chih-Lin I, IEEE Fellow and the Chief Scientist at China Mobile Research Institute, delivers a keynote speech titled AIML Vision V.S. 6G DAY1 Feasibility

▲ Victor Buttigieg, Professor of the University of Malta, presents Dr. Chih-Lin I with the Outstanding Speaker certificate

▲ Marco Di Renzo, IEEE Fellow and Professor of the University of Paris-Saclay, France, delivers a keynote speech entitled "Stacked Intelligent Meta surfaces: Communication, Computing and Sensing in the Wave Domain"

▲ Wu Gang, Professor of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, hosts Professor Rahim Tafazolli's keynote speech

▲ Regius Rahim Tafazolli, IEEE Fellow, Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and Royal Professor of the University of Surrey, delivers a keynote speech entitled "Future Networks, Universally Connected Intelligence"

▲ Zhang Sihai, Associate Professor of University of Science and Technology of China, hosts Professor Aylin Yener's keynote speech

▲ Aylin Yener, IEEE Fellow and Professor of Ohio State University, delivers a keynote speech entitled "Semantic Communications for AI-Native 6G"

▲ Li Changle, Professor of Xidian University, hosts the keynote speeches of Professor Mohamed-Slim Alouini and Dr. Peiying Zhu

▲ Mohamed-Slim Alouini, IEEE Fellow and Professor of King Abdullah University of Saudi Arabia, delivers a keynote speech entitled "Towards Connecting the Remaining Unconnected"

▲ Dr. Chih-Lin I presents Professor Mohamed-Slim Alouini with the Outstanding Speaker certificate

▲ Dr. Peiying Zhu, IEEE Fellow, Academician of Canadian Academy of Engineering, and Huawei Fellow, delivers a keynote speech entitled "GI Innovations Redefine Communications and Networking AG"

▲ Dr. Chih-Lin I presents Dr. Peiying Zhu with the Outstanding Speaker certificate

▲ Char-Dir Chung, Professor of National Taiwan University, hosts the keynote speeches of Professor Geoffrey Li and Dr. Sumei Sun

▲ Geoffrey Li, IEEE Fellow and Professor at Imperial College London, gives a keynote speech entitled "Fast Adaptation for deep learning based wireless communications"

▲ Dr. Chih-Lin I presents Professor Geoffrey Li with the Outstanding Speaker certificate

▲ Sumei Sun, IEEE Fellow and Professor of Singapore A*STAR, delivers a keynote speech entitled "Integrated Sensing, AI, and 6G: Opportunities and Challenges"

FCN 2024 featured 10 thematic parallel sessions, including "AI-Enabled Communications and Networks", "RIS-Assisted Communications", "Channel Access and Multiplexing", "Channel Estimation and Beamforming", "Network Resource Management", "Non-Terrestrial Networks", "Network Performance Analysis and Optimization", "Network Design and Traffic Cognition", and "Advanced Techniques for Future Networks". The authors of 54 papers presented their research and engaged in in-depth discussions with participating experts and scholars on the relevant topics.

▲ Chen Chen, Professor of Xidian University, chairs the meeting as the Chairman of the AI-Enabled Communications and Networks (I) parallel session

▲ Zhang Sihai, Associate Professor of University of Science and Technology of China, chairs the meeting as the Chairman of the AI-Enabled Communications and Networks (II) parallel session

▲ Yan Feng, Professor of Southeast University, chairs the meeting as the Chairman of the RIS-Assisted Communications parallel session

▲ Yang Ping, Professor of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, chairs the meeting as the Chairman of the Channel Access and Multiplexing parallel session

▲ Wang Luhan from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications chairs the meeting as the Chairman of the Channel Estimation and Beamforming parallel session

▲ Chen Xiang, Professor of Sun Yat-sen University, chairs the meeting as the Chairman of the Network Resource Management parallel session

▲ Mario Cordina, Professor of the University of Malta, chairs the meeting as the Chairman of the Non-Terrestrial Networks parallel session

▲ Gao Zhen, Professor of Tianjin University, chairs the meeting as the Chairman of the Network Performance Analysis and Optimization parallel session

▲ Tang Pingping, Professor of Anhui Normal University, chairs the meeting as the chairman of the Network Design and Traffic Cognition parallel session

At the FCN 2024 conference, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, a partner in the intergovernmental and strategic international cooperation projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, and the University of Malta jointly organized a seminar themed "AI-Driven Integrated Sensing and Communications for 6G". Participants engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges on AI-driven 6G wireless broadband transmission theories and technologies, as well as research on terahertz wireless transmission and devices.

▲ Wu Gang, Professor of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, presides over the seminar and delivers a speech

▲ Professor Saviour Zammit, Director of the Department of Communications and Computer Engineering of the University of Malta, delivers a speech at the seminar

▲ Liu Zilong, Professor of University of Essex, delivers a special report entitled "Ambiguity Shaping for 6G Communications and Sensing" at the seminar

▲ Group photo of guests attending the seminar

After the meeting, all attending guests visited the historic University of Malta, one of the world's top 100 universities and among the oldest universities, founded in 1592. The University of Malta has close cooperative relations with famous universities in many countries. The university maintains close collaborative relationships with prestigious institutions worldwide.

▲ Mr. Nathan Aquilina, Head of the International Department of the Malta Council for Science and Technology, attends the welcome dinner and delivers a speech, outlining the science and technology cooperation projects between China and Malta

▲ Professor Saviour Zammit, Head of the Department of Communications and Computer Engineering of the University of Malta, delivers a speech during the welcome dinner

▲ All attendees gather for a group photo in the university’s historic building, which dates back to 1592

FCN 2024 recognized five outstanding papers, including two Best Student Papers. The awards were presented on-site to the winners.

Three Best Papers

1. A Supervision Game-Theoretic Incentive Mechanism for Cooperative Sensing in Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Pincan Zhao and Changle Li (Xidian University, China); Xinrui Zhang (Carleton University, Canada); Yuchuan Fu and Mengqiu Tian (Xidian University, China)

▲ Professor Saviour Zammit, Director of the Department of Communications and Computer Engineering of the University of Malta, presents certificates to the winners

2. Federated Meta-RL Based Multiple Access Protocol for Diverse Heterogeneous Wireless Networks
Zhaoyang Liu and Xijun Wang (Sun Yat-sen University, China); Kun Guo (East China Normal University, China); Xinghua Sun and Xiang Chen (Sun Yat-sen University, China)

▲ Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, Executive Vice President of FuTURE Mobile Communication Forum, presents certificates to the winners

3. Time-varying Channel Modelling and Estimating for Reliable Edge and Cloud Computing Networks
Fan Jiang (Pengcheng Laboratory, China); Zijun Gong (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (GZ), China & Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong); Yuhui Song (Memorial University, Canada); Xiaofeng Tao (Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China)

▲ Dr. Chih-Lin I, Chief Scientist of China Mobile Research Institute, presents certificates to the winners

Two Best Student Papers

1. Learned Intelligent Recognizer with Adaptively Customized RIS Phases in Communication Systems
Yixuan Huang; Jie Yang; Chao-Kai Wen; Shuqiang Xia; Xiao Li; Shi Jin (Southeast University, China)

▲ Victor Buttigieg, Professor of the University of Malta, presents certificates to the winners

2. Multi-Constellation Signal Designs Aided Affine Frequency Division Multiplexing for 6G Communication Systems
Ke Jiang; Ping Yang; Tony Q. S. Quek; Zilong Liu; Saviour Zammit

▲ Dr. Geoffrey Li, Professor of the Imperial College London, presents certificates to the winners

At FCN 2024, universities and research institutions, such as Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Sun Yat-sen University, EURECOM, and Singapore University of Technology and Design, showcased several demonstration systems for 6G international cooperation projects. These included a fully cloud-based 6G data plane, 6G access network cloudification design based on RISC-V, and a 6G image semantic communication system based on interpretable semantics.

The FuTURE Mobile Communication Forum, the conference organizer, carefully planned a variety of inter-session activities to promote close communication and discussions among the attendees. These activities not only fostered cutting-edge academic exchanges among experts from around the world but also enhanced mutual understanding and strengthened relationships.

FCN 2024 concluded successfully on November 22, with a warm and collaborative atmosphere. Participants expressed their eagerness to continue supporting and participating in future academic events organized by the FuTURE Mobile Communication Forum. They also eagerly looked forward to FCN 2025.