W16 – LPWAN-Based Terrestrial-Non-Terrestrial Integration for Vehicular Networks: AI-Driven Hardware Platforms, Testbeds, and 6G Directions
Co-organizer: Nikumani Choudhury, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India
Co-organizer: Anakhi Hazarika, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India
Co-organizer: Moustafa Mazin Nasralla, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Co-organizer: Haleem Farman, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
TPC Members:
Abhinav Kumar, IIT Hyderabad, India
Anish Jindal, Durham University UK
Lei Shu, Nanjing Agricultural University, china
Nancy Varshney, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, India
Anurag Satpathy, Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA
Tamoghna Ojha, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, India
Pranay Agarwal, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, India
Mehbub Alam, IIIT Raichur
Arif Ahmed, Ericsson, Sweden
Tomaso de Cola, DLR, Germany
Sohaib Bin Altaf Khattak, Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Sedik, Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia
Mehre Munir, Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia
Maged Ismail, Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia
Samira Ghanbarian, University of Waterloo, Canada
Abstract: Modern vehicular communication networks are evolving rapidly under the pressure of increased connectivity demand, the pervasive use of IoT, edge AI integration, and ambitious visions for 6G. Simultaneously, non-terrestrial networks (NTN), including LPWAN-based LEO/satellite links, are emerging as a promising solution for wide-area, low-power, resilient connectivity, especially in areas lacking terrestrial infrastructure. This workshop aims to bring together researchers and practitioners from the vehicular, IoT, satellite/NTN, edge-AI, and hardware communities to explore the convergence of these domains. Specifically, the workshop will focus on hardware platforms and testbeds that enable AI-driven vehicular networks integrated with terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication layers. It will highlight experimental deployments, proof-of-concept prototypes, challenges in mobility, latency, energy efficiency, cross-layer design, and discuss future research directions in 6G-era integrated vehicular-NTN systems. Through technical paper presentations, talks, demo presentations, and panel discussions, the workshop will foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, encourage novel contributions, and build momentum for research that realistically addresses the requirements and constraints of hybrid terrestrial-vehicular-satellite networks. The outcomes are expected to include design insights, research roadmaps, and potential collaborations for building next-generation vehicular networks leveraging both ground and space infrastructure.
Program:
Date of Workshop: 9 June 2026 – Lympia B-2, 14:00 – 17:30
| Session (14:00) | Duration | Event |
| Session I (14:00 – 15:30) |
10 min | Workshop introduction and welcome note Workshop Chairs |
| 45 min | Keynote: “Future Directions on Resource Constrained Edge Devices” Prof. Tamoghna Ojha, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, India |
|
| 20 min | Technical Paper 1: Empowering AI Towards 6G: Realistic UAV Channel Data Acquisition Using Open-Source Solutions | |
| (15:30 – 16:00) | Break | |
| Session II (16:00 to 17:30) |
20 min | Technical Paper 2: Enhancing Learning Stability in Multi-Slice 6G O-RAN Resource Management Using Dueling Double Deep Reinforcement Learning |
| 20 min | Technical Paper 3: Footprint-Aware Security and Privacy Profiles for Connected Mobility over Hybrid Terrestrial-Non-Terrestrial Networks | |
| 20 min | Technical Paper 4: Resilient Vehicular SLAM via NTN-Enabled Collaborative Loop Closure in 6G Networks | |
| 20 min | Technical Paper 5: Spectrum Sharing and Interference Analysis for HAPS-Terrestrial Network Coexistence | |
| 20 min | Technical Paper 6: Wide Band MIMO Antenna Array for Vehicular Communications: Design and Performance Assessment | |
| 10 min | Concluding remarks and Vote of thanks Workshop Chairs |
Co-organizer’s Bios:
Nikumani Choudhury:
Nikumani Choudhury is an IEEE Senior Member and Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Information Sciences at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from IIIT Guwahati in 2020. His research focuses on IoT, LoRaWAN, MAC protocol design, edge intelligence, and 6G-enabled networks. Dr. Choudhury has led and co-led multiple funded projects from SERB, DST-TIH–IIT Bombay, WIPRO and the Department of Telecommunications, with research contributions spanning adaptive scheduling, resource allocation, and resilient communication frameworks at MAC sub-layer and above. He has published extensively in top-tier venues including the IEEE at Internet of Things Journal, ACM Transactions on Internet Technology, MobiHoic, Globecom, etc. He is also a recipient of the Best Paper Award at IEEE WoWMoM 2022, IEEE SIN 2024 and serves as a reviewer for leading IEEE/ACM journals. His current work advances efficient communication in low-power IoT networks, emphasizing scalability, security, and real-world testbed validation.
Anakhi Hazarika:
Anakhi Hazarika received her Ph.D. degree in July 2022 from the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at the Indian Institute of Information Technology Guwahati, India. She is a recipient of the Visvesvaraya Ph.D. Fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. She served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at IIT Hyderabad, India, and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the BITS Pilani, Hyderabad campus. Dr. Hazarika has published several research papers in reputed IEEE journals and international conferences, and she is also the holder of a U.S. patent. She has successfully secured and led four funded projects from government and industry sources, including TIH-DST and WIPRO Research. She was also honored with the Best Paper Award at the IEEE WoWMoM 2022 conference held in the UK. Her research interests lie in embedded systems design, with a focus on hardware architecture and prototypes for edge machine learning (ML) applications and FPGA-based accelerators for deep neural networks (DNN).
Moustafa Mazin Nasralla:
Moustafa M. Nasralla received the B.Sc. degree (Hons.) in electrical engineering from Hashemite University, Jordan, in 2010, the M.Sc. degree in networking and data communications from Kingston University, London, U.K., in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree from the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing (SEC), Kingston University. He is currently an Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Communications and Networks Engineering, Prince Sultan University (PSU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is currently the leader of the Smart Systems Engineering Laboratory (SSEL), at PSU. He was a member of the Wireless Multimedia and Networking (WMN) Research Group at Kingston University. He served as an Active Reviewer and received several distinguished reviewer awards from several reputable journals, such as IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, IEEE Transactions on Multimedia, IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, Wireless Communications (Elsevier), and Computer Network (Elsevier). He has solid research contributions in the area of networks and data communications, which are proven with publications in reputable journals with ISI Thomson JCR. He has won several national and internationally funded projects, such as Intelli-Student for the British Council, 5G-enabled Smart City Development in Saudi Arabia, U.K. Home Office, and EU FP7 CONCERTO. Currently, he is serving as a Guest Editor for Alexandria Engineering Journal (Elsevier), International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks (SAGE), Journal of Communications and Networks (Frontiers) and an Organizer of the International Conference on Sustainability: Developments and Innovations, and the 5G-Enabled Smart Cities workshop in the IEEE International Conference on Smart Cities. Moreover, he is a Senior Member of IEEE Young Professionals, IEEE ComSoc, and the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM). He has published over 90 articles in high-impact factor journals and reputable conferences. He is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). His research interests include the latest generation of wireless communication systems (e.g., 6G, 5G, LTE A, and LTE wireless networks), wireless sensor networks, network security, the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, radio resource allocation, telemedicine and video compression, and multimedia communications.
Haleem Farman:
Haleem Farman (Senior Member, IEEE) is currently an accomplished Researcher and an academic with 15 years of experience at the intersection of academia and industry. As a Researcher at Prince Sultan University and an Adjunct Professor with Whitecliffe, New Zealand, he is driving innovation in smart systems, the IoT, and AI, while actively contributing to major research initiatives and academic leadership. With around 15 years of experience in academia and research, his expertise spans the Internet of Things, privacy preservation, intrusion detection systems, ad hoc networks, smart cities, and artificial intelligence. He has led and contributed to multiple funded research projects supported by prestigious organizations, including British Council, Research Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA), Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan University, and the Government of Pakistan. He has published over 60 research papers in high-impact journals, conferences, and book chapters, and has actively supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students. He is an IEEE VTS Young Professional Ambassador. He is also serving as the Vice-Chair for the IEEE Smart Cities Awards and Recognition Committee, highlighting his leadership and dedication to advancing smart city technologies and academic excellence. He is serving as an Academic Editor for PLOS One. He has also organized workshops in international conferences, such as the 101 IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC-Spring2025), the 9th IEEE International Smart Cities Conference 2023, and the 2nd International Conference on Sustainability Development.
For additional information: https://sites.google.com/hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in/lpwan-satcom/home
Paper submission deadline Extended: 8 February 2026
Acceptance notification: 18 March 2026
Final paper submission deadline Extended: 7 April 2026
Submission requirements: 5-page paper (without overlength charge) and up to 2 additional pages are allowed with the purchase of additional page charges in the amount of $100 USD per additional page at the time of registration and final paper submission.
Paper submission can be located here: https://vtc2026s-rr-wks.trackchair.com/