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1. Distributed Antennas and Near-Field Applications for Future Wireless Systems
Guest Editors Peng Mei, Shuai Zhang, Zhinong Ying, Antonio Clemente, Enrica Martini
Submission deadline: May 31, 2026
Guest Editors Yang Yang, Atif Shamim, Wonbin Hong, Yang Hao, Eva Rajo-Iglesias, Manos M. Tentzeris
Submission deadline: 31 July 2026
Details of each Special Issue are given below.
Distributed Antennas and Near-Field Applications for Future Wireless Systems
The rapid evolution of wireless communication technologies, including 6G, satellite networks, and IoT, has heightened the demand for innovative antenna architectures and application transformations. Distributed antenna systems (DAS) and near-field communication techniques are emerging as critical enablers for high-capacity, ultra-reliable, and energy-efficient wireless networks. Distributed antennas enable flexible and scalable wireless coverage with antenna arrays (MIMO antenna arrays) distributed spatially, mitigating path loss and interference issues while enhancing spectral efficiency. Similarly, near-field communication techniques are gaining traction in scenarios requiring precise spatial control, such as ultra-massive MIMO, near-field wireless power transfer, and enhanced security applications. The aspects of energy efficiency and electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure should also be considered in the implementations of DAS and near-field applications to mitigate or reduce the effects of electromagnetic fields on humans and devices, promoting radio-friendly environments. This special issue aims to gather recent advances in DAS, near-field communications, and their applications in next-generation wireless networks. We welcome original research articles covering theoretical advancements, practical implementations, and experimental validations in these areas. The focus will be on novel methodologies, innovative architecture, performance improvements, and real-world deployment challenges. By consolidating innovative research in these fields, this special issue aims to bridge the gap between theoretical models and practical realizations, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Topics of interest: We invite high-quality contributions on topics including, but not limited to:
- Distributed Antenna System (DAS) architectures for 5G and beyond
- Synthesis and optimization tools for near-field distributed antenna systems
- Efficient DAS connection methods between antennas and central processing units (CPUs), such as radio on fiber, over optical fiber, mm-wave and THz, etc.
- Advanced antennas with enhanced coverage
- Near-field communication and its applications in emerging technologies
- Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) and metasurface-enhanced distributed antennas
- Beamforming and spatial multiplexing techniques in DAS and near-field regimes
- Massive MIMO and cell-free architectures utilizing distributed antennas
- Near-field integrated communication and sensing
- Advanced spatial modulation techniques such as orbit angular momentum in near-field scenarios
- Interference management in distributed and near-field systems
- Artificial intelligence-enabled optimization for DAS and near-field applicationss
- Distributed antenna system MIMO channels, OTA test of massive XMMIMO (Extreme Multiple-Input Multiple Output)
- Distributed antenna system-based sensing and localization
- Distributed antenna system for wireless power transfer
- Distributed antenna system-related standardizations
- Innovative and emerging application scenarios and use cases enabled by distributed antennas or near-field communications, such as imaging, sensing.
- Experimental studies, real-world deployments, and applications of DAS, such as DAS for satellite communications, DAS for swarm mobile systems and UAVs, DAS for communications in complex environments, etc.
- Energy-aware architectures for DAS, low-power implementations of DAS, and EMF-aware deployment strategies for the DAS and near-field applications
- EMF (electromagnetic field) exposure analyses for DAS-based application
Data and Code Sharing
All authors are invited to share via IEEE Data Port and IEEE Code Ocean the used data and developed codes to enhance the reproducibility and visibility of the articles published in the Special Issue.
Keywords
- Distributed antenna system
- Advanced antennas for distributed antenna systems
- Metasurfaces and electromagnetic surfaces
- Near-field applications
- Enhanced coverage
- Spatial multiplexing technique
- Integrated communication and sensing
- Sensing and localization
- Massive MIMO and cell-free architecture
- EMF exposure analyses
Guest Editors
Peng Mei: Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China,
Shuai Zhang (FIEEE): Aalborg University, Denmark,
Zhinong Ying (FIEEE): Yangtze Delta Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China,
Antonio Clemente: CEA-Leti, France,
Enrica Martini: University of Siena, Italy,
Important Dates
Submission deadline: May 31, 2026
Emerging Materials and Enabling Technologies for Advancing Antenna Systems: From Design to Manufacturing
In recent years, novel materials, processes, and manufacturing technologies have emerged with significant potential for advancing antenna systems in wireless communication. Over the past two decades, there has been a growing interest in new microwave materials and fabrication methods, which facilitate the development and innovation of antennas, metasurfaces, and metamaterials across the megahertz (MHz) to terahertz (THz) frequency range. However, there is no such special issue in IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation (TAP). To address this gap, a Special Issue on New Materials and Processing Technologies for Antenna Designs and Wireless Communication is necessary, offering an excellent platform for cross-disciplinary researchers and practitioners to share the latest developments in antenna designs inspired by advanced materials and emerging manufacturing technologies. The Special Issue will also provide a forward-looking perspective on future antenna designs that leverage advanced materials and intelligent manufacturing technologies to address the integration of emerging wireless paradigms (such as 6G, IoT, and electromagnetic skins), sustainability and green fabrication, and the increasing impact of AI-driven design and optimization.
The scope of this TAP Special Issue covers emerging RF/microwave materials and fabrication processes with significant potential to advance future developments in antenna innovations, propagation, and electromagnetic wave manipulation, utilizing high-performance RF materials and processing technologies. This interdisciplinary field unites researchers, scientists, and engineers from diverse backgrounds to promote and explore novel materials, processes, and manufacturing techniques. It also offers opportunities for the AP-S community to share cross-disciplinary R&D efforts and findings. Submissions may encompass, but are not limited to material engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, automation, and process engineering.
Topics of interest: We invite high-quality submissions addressing topics including, but not limited to:
- Additively Manufactured Antennas and Arrays:
- Additive Manufacturing techniques for antenna fabrications, such as inkjet and screen printing, fused deposition modelling (FDM), continuous liquid interface production (CLIP), and selective laser sintering (SLS), etc.
- Dielectric materials for antenna designs: Low-loss materials, high dielectric constant materials, phase-changing materials
- Metallic materials for antenna designs: steel, silver, copper, and alloys
- Multimaterial 3D printing, e.g. dielectric and conductive materials
- Bioprinting for nanoantennas
- Emerging Fabrication and Processing Techniques for Antennas:
- Intelligent antenna manufacturing systems with AI
- Ultra-precision machining: laser micromachining and electro-discharge machining (EDM) with improved accuracy for prototyping nano antennas or photonic conductive antennas (PCA)
- Hybrid manufacturing for complex antenna systems: additive and subtractive hybrid processing
- Materials coating techniques for high-performance antenna systems
- Multimaterial antenna fabrication
- Nano/micro processing techniques for miniaturized antennas
- Heterogeneous integration and processing techniques for antenna-in-package and chip-to-chip communications
- Functional RF Materials for Reconfigurable Antennas:
- Shape-memory materials for reconfigurable antennas: Shape-memory alloy and shape-memory polymer
- Electromagnetic absorbing materials/magnetic materials for frequency-selective surfaces and absorbers
- Phase-tunable materials for beamforming, beam steering and beam shaping
- Magnetic materials and multiferroics for advanced antenna systems
- RF materials formulation
- Tunable RF materials stimulation/modelling techniques
- Material training/stimuli strategies: Electrical, heat, light, magnetic waves
- Next generation of semiconductor materials for on-chip antennas
- Materials and Enabling Technologies for Antenna Characterization and Applications:
- Material characterization and measurement methods of the new material
- Biomedical, medicine and healthcare applications
- Electromagnetic skins
- Emerging wireless applications such as 6G and IoT
- Wireless power transfer
- Satellite antenna systems and space applications
- Emerging wireless paradigms with advanced materials and intelligent manufacturing technologies:
- Antenna design using sustainable and green fabrication technologies
- AI-driven design and optimization
Supporting Technical Committees:
- TC-8 (Leading): Wireless Communication
- TC-1 (Supporting): Antennas
- TC-2 (Supporting): Arrays
- TC-4 (Supporting): Metamaterials
- TC-7 (Supporting): Antenna Measurements
- TC-11 (Supporting): Health & Medicine
- TC-12 (Supporting): Space
Data and Code Sharing
All authors are invited to share via IEEE Data Port and IEEE Code Ocean the used data and developed codes to enhance the reproducibility and visibility of the articles published in the Special Issue.
Keywords
- Additive manufacturing
- RF/microwave materials
- Antenna fabrication
- Metamaterials and metasurfaces
- Reconfigurable antennas
- Multimaterial processing
- Nano/Microfabrication
- AI-driven design
- Sustainable manufacturing
- 6G wireless systems
Guest Editors
Yang Yang: University of Technology Sydney, Australia,
Atif Shamim (FIEEE): KAUST, Saudi Arabia,
Wonbin Hong (FIEEE): POSTECH, South Korea,
Yang Hao (FIEEE): Queen Mary University of London, UK,
Eva Rajo-Iglesias (FIEEE): University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain,
Manos M. Tentzeris (FIEEE): Georgia Institute of Technology, USA,
Important Dates
Submission deadline: 31 July 2026