Wireless Networks for Urban-Rural Development: enabling Industry 5.0, Agriculture 4.0 and Aquaculture 4.0 for development

The rapid evolution of wireless communication technologies is changing the landscape of digital connectivity options for underserved and rural environments. However, despite significant advances in wireless network deployments, a persistent digital divide continues to limit the participation of rural and coastal communities in the global digital economy. Bridging this gap is not merely a technical challenge; it is a prerequisite for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to zero hunger, decent work, and sustainable industry. Emerging paradigms such as Industry 5.0, Agriculture 4.0, and Aquaculture 4.0 offer transformative frameworks for reimagining production, food security, and resource management through intelligent, connected systems. However, their deployment in low-connectivity environments demands innovative wireless network architectures, energy-efficient protocols, and context-aware resource management strategies. This Research Topic brings together cutting-edge research addressing precisely these challenges, with a focus on solutions that are scalable, inclusive, and aligned with sustainable development principles. This Research Topic aims to consolidate and advance the body of knowledge at the intersection of wireless network design and sustainable urban-rural development. It looks to study the role of wireless networks as the key to unlock the potential of Industry 5.0, Agriculture 4.0, and Aquaculture 4.0 in underserved and rural areas. It seeks to attract original research and systematic reviews addressing the technical, operational, and socioeconomic dimensions of deploying wireless infrastructure in resource-constrained and geographically dispersed environments. Another goal is to promote interdisciplinary dialogue between computer scientists, telecommunications engineers, agronomists, marine scientists, and development practitioners, recognizing that sustainable connectivity solutions require expertise that transcends any single discipline. The Research Topic also aims to present research proposing innovative wireless network solutions that help to narrow the urban-rural connectivity gap and to overcome barriers to sustainable development. Ultimately, this collection aspires to serve both as a reference for researchers and as an evidence base for policymakers and development practitioners working to close the digital divide. This Research Topic welcomes original research articles and review papers on wireless network technologies and their applications in rural and urban-rural transition contexts. Contributions may address network architecture, protocol design, IoT systems, edge and fog computing, or AI-driven network management, provided they are grounded in or motivated by the challenges of Industry 5.0, Agriculture 4.0, or Aquaculture 4.0 deployments. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: - LPWAN and 5G/6G network deployments for low-density and rural areas - SDN and heterogeneous network architectures for rural connectivity - UAV- and satellite-assisted connectivity, including LEO, NTN, and Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks (SAGIN) - Edge and fog computing for latency-sensitive rural applications - Industrial IoT (IIoT) for resilient and sustainable manufacturing - Precision agriculture sensor networks and data acquisition systems - Aquaculture monitoring and control systems over wireless networks - AI and ML-based decision support for agriculture and aquaculture over wireless infrastructure - Sustainable and energy-aware network protocols for smart factories and rural deployments - Energy harvesting techniques for off-grid wireless sensor nodes - Cybersecurity and data integrity in rural wireless deployments - Quality of Service (QoS) management in constrained rural network environments - Regulatory, economic, and policy dimensions of rural connectivity for sustainable development Topic editors: Salvador Villarreal-Reyes, Mario Siller, Alejandro Galaviz-Mosqueda Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81866/wireless-networks-for-urban-rural-development-enabling-industry-50-agriculture-40-and-aquaculture-40-for-development