Each issue of the IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications (J-SAC) is devoted to a specific technical topic and thus provides to J-SAC readers a collection of up-to-date papers on that topic. These issues are valuable to the research community and become valuable references. The technical topics covered by J-SAC issues span the entire field of communications and networking. J-SAC publishes only papers that are submitted in response to a Call-for-Papers. These calls are published in J-SAC issues and other publications of the IEEE Communications Society as appropriate to the subject area of the call. Papers submitted for review for possible publication in a J-SAC issue must be submitted to one of the Guest Editors listed in the Call-for-Papers. 

Recent issue themes included:

    Speech and Image Coding.
    Medical Communications.
    HDTV and Digital Video Communications.
    B-ISDN Applications and Economics.
    Wireless Personal Communications.
    Advances in Satellite Communication.
    Fading Channels and Equalization.
    Spread Spectrum.

Special Issue on Positioning and Sensing Over Wireless Networks
Submission Date: 2023-10-30

Positioning and sensing have recently received considerable attention as key enablers for a series of emerging applications such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and internet of things (IoT), which simultaneously require high data rate communications and accurate positioning and sensing. Currently, satellite based positioning systems such as global positioning system may not be applied to the previously mentioned emerging applications due to the long transmission distance between satellites and ground terminals. Moreover, satellite based positioning systems cannot achieve satisfying performance in indoor applications due to complex propagation environments (i.e., blockings of buildings/walls). This Special Issue aims to gather contributions to positioning and sensing over wireless networks from both academia and industry. Thereby, the Special Issue will advance on the development of fundamental theories for positioning/sensing over wireless networks and the optimization of wireless network-based positioning/sensing for the implementation of new applications such as AR/VR and IoT. Moreover, due to the use of wireless networks, energy efficiency, sustainability, security and privacy issues that will affect positioning and sensing are also considered in this Special Issue. Suitable topics for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

- Information-theoretical limits for positioning and sensing.
- Network architecture and transmission protocol for positioning and sensing.
- Waveform/coding/modulation design for positioning and sensing.
- Radio frequency based positioning and sensing method design
- Millimeter-wave/THz/visible light communication for positioning and sensing.
- Multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), and massive MIMO for positioning and sensing.
- Position and sensing design in IoT, autonomous vehicle systems, and AR/VR systems.
- Machine learning/AI enhanced positioning and sensing.
- Positioning and sensing based on adaptive filters.
- Security and privacy issues in positioning and sensing systems.
- Sustainable positioning and sensing method design.
- Energy efficient positioning and sensing method design.
- Experimental testbeds and techniques of positioning and sensing systems. 

Special Issue on Advanced Optimization Theory and Algorithms for Next Generation Wireless Communication Networks
Submission Date: 2023-12-01

Optimization theory is an indispensable framework for the design of wireless communication networks. It is the basis for the design of algorithms to achieve desirable performance subject to the resource constraints. There have been revolutionary innovations in the architecture and networking of wireless communication systems (from 3G to 5G and beyond) in the last two decades. These innovations have substantially changed the structures and nature of the optimization problems behind the system design and thus posed serious challenges in understanding, analyzing, and solving those problems. The above unique difficulties and features of optimization problems urgently call for and indeed have dramatically driven the development of many new and advanced optimization theory, algorithms, and techniques such as non-convex non-smooth optimization, sparse optimization, global optimization, parallel and distributed optimization, fractional programming, robust and stochastic optimization, integer and discrete optimization, and datadriven optimization.

This Special Issue focuses on advanced and novel optimization theory and algorithms for next generation wireless communication networks, aiming at bringing together researchers and industry practitioners working in related areas to share their new ideas, latest findings, and state-of-the-art results. The Special Issue aims to foster a fruitful exchange of ideas between the fields of optimization and wireless communications, promoting cross-fertilization. The Special Issue solicits high-quality original research papers on topics including, but not limited to:
- Global and integer optimization theory and algorithms for wireless communication network design
- Non-convex non-smooth optimization theory and algorithms for wireless communication network design
- Sparse optimization theory and algorithms for wireless communication network design
- Stochastic and robust optimization theory and algorithms and applications to wireless communication network design
- Parallel and distributed optimization theory and algorithms and applications to wireless communication network design
- Bilevel optimization theory and algorithms and applications to wireless communication network design
- Theory and algorithms for model-based and data-driven optimization and applications to wireless communication network design

Special Issue on Integrated Ground-Air-Space Wireless Networks for 6G Mobile
Submission Date: 2024-02-15

With the deployment of 5G mobile, the research toward 6G wireless has arisen in both industries and academy. Among several potentially disruptive ambitions, 6G wireless is envisioned to provide seamless connectivity for global broadband coverage and computing services. For this purpose, integrated ground-air-space three-dimensional networks (3D networks) that cover satellites, aerial platforms and terrestrial nodes are generally recognized as a promising key component.

Though the full concepts are still under development, one common vision is to provide not only wireless connections but also computing services, owing to the fast development of computational capability of ground, aerial and space platforms.

Despite many results on LEO satellite and aerial platform communication, integrated networks across space-air-ground impose technical challenges for communication and computing, calling for a rethinking integrated ground-air-space system in communication and computing. There has been substantial research recently, such as on LEO and aerial platform based broadband access, multilayer satellite network-based distributed computing, satellite-assisted sensing and integrated communication, IoT-over-satellite, air IoT etc.

This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive collection of the state-of-the-art theory, design, optimization, and applications of 3D networks for communication and computing. Original technical contributions are solicited in the relevant areas including, but not limited to, the following:
- Satellite-based distributed machine learning and computing, and satellite-assisted remote sensing and communications
- Aerial platforms for computing offloading and cooperative communication
- Optimized resource allocation, scheduling of communication and computation, network optimization and routing design
- Spectrum management and engineering
- Mobility and handover management
- Theoretical limits for communications and computing
- Error control, modulation and waveform design, and MAC layer design