The University of Trieste at IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC) 2026 in Glasgow, the world’s leading conference in the field of telecommunications. Representing the University was Fulvio Babich, professor at the Department of Engineering and Architecture, who served as Leading Co-Chair of the Communication Theory Symposium, one of the conference’s most significant scientific tracks.

The conference brought together researchers, industry experts, and representatives of the world’s leading technology companies to discuss the future of digital communications, with a particular focus on the development of 6G networks, artificial intelligence, and the sustainability of telecommunications infrastructures.

Reporting from Glasgow, Prof. Babich noted that the international debate is currently focused on the need for a new generation of mobile networks capable of addressing the profound changes brought about by artificial intelligence.

“The prevailing consensus within both the scientific and industrial communities is that the evolution toward 6G is now appropriate, if not urgent, in light of the extremely rapid development of artificial intelligence,” he explained. “Current forecasts indicate that a first version of the standard could become available between 2029 and 2030.”

One of the most widely discussed topics at the conference was the growth in data traffic generated by new AI-based applications. Autonomous systems, intelligent agents, augmented reality, and wearable devices are profoundly reshaping network requirements, calling for new architectures capable of delivering greater capacity and efficiency.

Among the most promising innovations presented in Glasgow was the Token Communication paradigm, which is expected to complement traditional bit-based transmission models “Token Communication represents a highly significant paradigm shift,” observed Prof. Babich. “The goal is no longer to transmit large quantities of data, but rather to efficiently transfer the semantic content of information. This approach can reduce network traffic, improve energy efficiency, and contribute to the environmental sustainability of future digital infrastructures.”

Considerable attention was also devoted to integrated terrestrial–air–space networks, regarded as one of the key components of the future 6G ecosystem. Alongside the growing deployment of low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations, the scientific community is increasingly interested in High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), which can provide connectivity over wide areas while offering lower energy consumption and reduced latency.

“Stratospheric platforms could play an increasingly important role in future communication architectures,” Babich emphasized. “Compared with traditional satellite systems, they offer significant advantages in terms of regional coverage, energy efficiency, and the ability to maintain and upgrade infrastructure.”

Prof. Babich’s participation in IEEE ICC 2026 highlights the contribution of the University of Trieste to international telecommunications research and confirms the University’s role in advancing the technologies that will shape the networks of the future.

Photo caption: Chedlia Ben Naila (Optical Networks and Systems Co-Chair, Polytechnic University of Catalonia), Fulvio Babich, Nam Tran (Wireless Communications Co-Chair, University of Dublin), and Muhammad Ali Imran (Executive Co-Chair, University of Glasgow).