Professor Cicek Cavdar from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. - Communication systems
Date: - Location: Eurecom
Abstract: The development of sixth-generation (6G) mobile networks goes beyond simply improving data rates and reducing latency for terrestrial users—it also opens the door to seamless connectivity in aerial and remote environments. This tutorial examines the architectural advancements necessary to support emerging applications such as flying taxis, passenger aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The increasing deployment of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), and UAVs presents new opportunities for global coverage. However, integrating these non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) with traditional terrestrial networks (TNs) remains a complex challenge. This talk provides an in-depth look at current radio access network (RAN) architectures, highlighting the need for a flexible, three-dimensional (3D) network design. We will go through key enabling technologies, such as multi-radio access technology (RAT) communication and AI-driven network optimization, to ensure seamless integration of terrestrial, aerial, and satellite networks. Additionally, the talk will cover advanced multi-connectivity (MC) strategies and handover management techniques aimed at improving network reliability and availability. Bio: Cicek Cavdar is a Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. She is the founding director of the research center on satellite communications: SMART 6GSAT composed of 21 partners from Swedish satellite and telecommunication industry together with research institutes. She leads the “Intelligent Network Systems” research group and serves as vice-head of the Communication Systems Division. She has played a pivotal role in numerous European projects, particularly in aerospace communications and sustainable network technologies. Since 2013, Cicek has led several EU projects focused on sustainability and green communications, including "5GrEEn," SooGREEN, and AI4Green. Notably, AI4Green received the Eureka Innovations Award and the Celtic Excellence Award in 2024. In aerospace communications, she has coordinated industry-university collaborative projects since 2016, such as "ICARO-EU" and "6G-SKY: 6G for Connected Sky." Currently she is leading RAI-6Green: Robust and AI Native 6G Green Communications Prohect. Her research interests include the integration of non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks, edge/cloud computing, ultra-reliable low latency wireless communications, sustainability, and AI-assisted green network management.
