Towards Zero-Touch 6G Networks: RIS, Distributed Intelligence, and Proactive Wireless Decision Making

Speaker: Lina Mohjazi

July 20^th, 2026 | 11:30 am
DEIB, PT3 Meeting Room  (Bld. 20A)

Contact: Francesco Linsalata

Abstract

On July 20^th, 2026, at 11:30 am the seminar on "Towards Zero-Touch 6G Networks: RIS, Distributed Intelligence, and Proactive Wireless Decision Making" will take place in DEIB PT3 Meeting Room (Building 20A).

The vision of 6G extends far beyond enhanced connectivity, aiming to enable fully autonomous, intelligent, and adaptive wireless ecosystems capable of supporting mission-critical services, immersive applications, and massive machine-type communications. Achieving this vision requires a paradigm shift from conventional reactive network operation toward zero-touch networks that can sense, learn, reason, and make decisions with minimal human intervention.
This talk explores the convergence of sensing, communication, and intelligence as the foundation of future zero-touch 6G networks. It highlights how distributed intelligence, AI-native architectures, and real-time environmental awareness can transform wireless systems into proactive and self-optimizing infrastructures. The lecture will discuss emerging techniques for proactive mobility and handover management, intelligent IoT data collection, and federated learning frameworks that enable scalable and privacy-preserving network intelligence across highly distributed environments. The talk will further examine the role of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) in enabling programmable wireless environments capable of dynamically adapting propagation conditions to enhance coverage, reliability, and energy efficiency. Practical considerations, including scalability, sustainability, trustworthiness, and implementation challenges, will also be discussed in the context of next-generation wireless systems. By bridging advances in AI, sensing, and wireless communications, this lecture presents a holistic perspective on the evolution toward autonomous 6G ecosystems and outlines key research directions shaping the future of intelligent connectivity.

Short Bio

Lina Mohjazi (Senior Member, IEEE) is a Lecturer of autonomous systems and connectivity with the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, U.K. She received the B.Sc. (Honours) degree from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, UAE, in 2008, the M.Sc. degree from Khalifa University (KU), UAE, in 2012 (Distinction), and the Ph.D. degree from the Institute for Communication Systems, University of Surrey, U.K., in 2018, all in electrical and electronic engineering. She has co-authored more than 60 research papers in international high-impact journals and highly-rated conferences as well as book chapters. Her research interests include green and sustainable wireless communications, IoT, machine learning, Big Data analytics, energy efficiency, fundamental performance limits, and beyond 5G and its applications.Dr. Mohjazi is a Fellow of the Women’s Engineering Society and a Senior member of the IEEE Women in Engineering. She is currently an Associate Editor for IEEE COMMUNICATIONS LETTERS. Dr. Mohjazi was a technical program committee member and a session chair of several IEEE flagship conferences. Dr. Mohjazi was endorsed as ”Global Talent” by the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK in 2020, and as a “High Level Foreign Talent” by the Chinese Government in 2023. She was also the recipient of multiple teaching awards, the IEEE GPECOM 2022 best paper presentation award, and the IEEE Women in Engineering UK&I Engineering Excellence award. She is an Affiliate Member of Mohammed Bin Rashid Academy of Scientists, UAE.