AI-Driven Management and Orchestration for Open RAN, 5G Core, and 6G Networks

The evolution of 5G and the emergence of 6G are transforming telecommunication networks into highly programmable, cloud-native systems. Open RAN (O-RAN) and service-based 5G Core architectures offer unprecedented flexibility through virtualization and disaggregation, but also introduce complex systems engineering challenges in end-to-end network control, cross-domain orchestration, resource management, and service assurance.This Research Topic brings together researchers and practitioners working on the networking, architectural, and systems aspects of intelligent management to enable autonomous network operation. While advanced AI and machine learning techniques, including deep reinforcement learning, federated learning, distributed inference, and generative models, serve as key enablers, the primary emphasis of this collection is on how these methods integrate into realistic network architectures, runtime environments, and operational workflows. We welcome contributions on systems design, novel protocol-aware control mechanisms, execution frameworks, experimental platforms, and real-world deployments advancing intelligent network automation, interoperability, and the path toward autonomous 6G systems.The adoption of O-RAN principles and cloud-native 5G Core designs has fundamentally changed how mobile network functions are orchestrated across distributed cloud and edge infrastructures. This architectural shift creates highly dynamic operating environments where AI-enabled components must interface reliably with standard telecom interfaces and operational loops. In particular, the O-RAN architecture introduces Near-Real-Time and Non-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs), providing standard platforms for AI-powered optimization through xApps and rApps. Realizing the full potential of these architectures requires tackling critical networking and systems bottlenecks: cross-domain orchestration between RAN, transport, and Core; low-latency telemetry and closed-loop execution; scalable runtime systems at the network edge; robust multi-tenant slicing; energy-efficient systems operation; protocol security; and rigorous empirical validation on realistic testbeds.This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, review papers, perspectives, methods, and experimental studies focused on systems, architectures, and management frameworks for intelligent O-RAN, 5G, and beyond-5G networks.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Architectures and runtime systems for AI-enabled RICs, including design, execution, and conflict mitigation for xApps and rApps• Cross-domain orchestration and lifecycle management across cloud-native 5G/6G Core functions, transport, and disaggregated RAN components• Closed-loop network automation, zero-touch management, system telemetry, and stability of autonomous control loops• Systems aspects of edge computing and MEC, including runtime scheduling and latency management for distributed AI control• Network slicing systems, dynamic resource allocation, and end-to-end SLA assurance across multi-domain infrastructure• Architectures, telemetry, and control strategies for energy-efficient network operations• Networking protocols, aggregation frameworks, and systems overhead for federated and distributed learning in telecom environments• Security, resilience, trust, and system-level safety within autonomous network control pipelines• Digital twins, system emulators, and closed-loop optimization frameworks• Experimental platforms, open-source implementations (such as O-RAN SC, OpenAirInterface, srsRAN, and Free5GC), and field trial deploymentsWe particularly encourage interdisciplinary contributions emphasizing communication network systems, cloud-native infrastructure, and experimental validation on realistic platforms. Topic editors: Domenico Scotece, Riccardo Venanzi, Muhammad Zeeshan Shakir Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83439/ai-driven-management-and-orchestration-for-open-ran-5g-core-and-6g-networks