Date : June 16-18, 2025 -- Time 9:00 am - 2:30 pm Venue : Queen's University Scope : This workshop provides a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas, fostering collaborations, and shaping the future of telecommunications networks. This year’s theme focuses on interdisciplinary innovations shaping the next generation of telecommunications. Key discussions will explore how AI, quantum computing, and other emerging technologies are transforming the field. Format : WATR 2025 will follow a structured daily module format, ensuring a balanced mix of talks and discussions. Registration : A registration fee is set at $200 for faculty and researchers, and $100 for students. Organizing Committee : * Honorary Chair : Hossam Hassanein, Queen's University * Workshop Chair : Abd-Elhamid M. Taha, Alfaisal University and Queen's University * Program Cochairs : Ahmed Refaey Hussein, Guelph University and Ayman Radwan, IST - University of Lisbon * Local Arrangements Chair : Salimur Choudhury, Queen's University Bldg: Walter Light Hall, 19 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N9

Join us on June 16th, 2025 for a special one-hour event in celebration of the IEEE International Day in Signal Processing. Industry leader, Dr. Ahmed Medra, will deliver an engaging talk on the fascinating history of signal processing and its transformative impact on the high-tech industry. Following the presentation, enjoy a networking session with fellow professionals and enthusiasts over pizza. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the innovative field of signal processing! 350 Legget Drive, Kanata , Ontario, Canada, K2K 0G7

Presentation will break down to different topics which Insulating Fluid Quality tests are recommended and what they mean. It will also delve into Dissolved Gas Analysis and how we get the information needed and offer recommendations using analytical tools like Duval's Triangle and Pentagon. Speaker(s): Steven, Agenda: 7:00PM - Introduction of IEEE Hamilton Section 7:15PM - Presentation 8:00PM - Q&A 8:15PM - Refreshments Room: Meeting Room 1, Bldg: Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge Road, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, L6L 2G6

I am happy to announce a Workshop on Sensing, Coding, and Communications to be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at the University of Toronto, Bahen Centre for Information Technology, BA 2135 from 9 AM to 4:15 PM featuring the following distinguished speakers: - Prof. Henk Wymeersch (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden) - Prof. Shuowen Zhang (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China) - Prof. Liang Liu (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) - ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer - Prof. Seok-Hwan Park (Jeonbuk National University, Korea) - Prof. Emanuele Viterbo (Monash University, Australia) - Prof. Hei Victor Cheng (Aarhus University, Denmark) - Prof. Li-Hsiang Shen (National Central University, Taiwan) Please RSVP your spot by June 10 using the following link: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOrY5kW2zw7pXX3qwcMdLRB2aPuGlqs1hkgc8V0TBezeKSiw/viewform) Room: BA 2135, Bldg: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y1R5

Recently, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has identified integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) as a primary usage scenario for the sixth-generation (6G) cellular networks in IMT-2030 Framework. As a result, future cellular networks will provide not only communication services, but also sensing services such as localization and tracking. However, how to exploit the existing communication infrastructure to effectively achieve sensing functions remains an open problem for 6G. In this talk, we will introduce the methodologies to leverage various types of communication nodes in cellular networks as anchors, including base stations, user equipments, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, to perform ubiquitous sensing. Specifically, the advantages and disadvantages of each type of anchors will be listed, and the efficient solutions to overcome these disadvantages will be outlined. Apart from theoretical works, this talk will also present our latest achievements in building a 6G ISAC platform that operates at the millimeter-wave band. We will conclude this talk by discussing some promising future directions that will be beneficial to the transformation of the world’s largest communication network into the world’s largest sensing network. Please complete a FREE registration by June 10 to reserve your spot using the following link: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOrY5kW2zw7pXX3qwcMdLRB2aPuGlqs1hkgc8V0TBezeKSiw/viewform) Speaker(s): Dr. Liang Liu , Room: BA 2135, Bldg: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Progress Towards High Dimensional Quantum Communications in Turbulent Free-Space Channels Abstract: Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables information-theoretically secure communication, guaranteed by the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. By leveraging quantum properties of single particles, most often photons, QKD allows two parties to establish a shared secret key with provable resistance against both classical and quantum eavesdroppers. While most communication today is done in a binary scheme using 1s and 0s, by pushing beyond 2 dimensions with high-dimensional (HD) QKD protocols, more than one bit of information can be encoded per photon. Additionally, secure quantum communications can be done even in noisy channels where 2-dimensional QKD would be impossible. Free-space channels, where the spatial degree of freedom of photons is available for encoding, like ground-satellite links and ground-ground links are clear candidates for the implementation of HD QKD. Free-space channels on Earth, despite the name, are not actually free due to fluctuations in the atmosphere called turbulence. We investigate the challenges and benefits of using spatial modes of light, in particular the Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) of photons to make HD QKD realisable in turbulent free-space channels. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Progrès vers des communications quantiques de haute dimension dans des canaux turbulents en espace libre Résumé: La distribution quantique de clés (QKD) permet une communication théoriquement sécurisée, garantie par les principes fondamentaux de la mécanique quantique. En exploitant les propriétés quantiques de particules uniques, le plus souvent des photons, la QKD permet à deux parties d'établir une clé secrète partagée avec une résistance démontrable aux écoutes électroniques classiques et quantiques. Alors que la plupart des communications actuelles se font selon un schéma binaire utilisant des 1 et des 0, en dépassant les deux dimensions avec les protocoles QKD haute dimension (HD), plus d'un bit d'information peut être codé par photon. De plus, des communications quantiques sécurisées peuvent être réalisées même dans des canaux bruyants où la QKD bidimensionnelle serait impossible. Les canaux en espace libre, où le degré de liberté spatial des photons est disponible pour le codage, comme les liaisons sol-satellite et sol-sol, sont des candidats évidents pour la mise en œuvre de la QKD HD. Les canaux en espace libre sur Terre, malgré leur nom, ne sont pas réellement libres en raison des fluctuations de l'atmosphère appelées turbulences. Nous étudions les défis et les avantages de l'utilisation des modes spatiaux de lumière, en particulier le moment angulaire orbital (OAM) des photons pour rendre le HD QKD réalisable dans des canaux turbulents en espace libre. Lukas Scarfe (PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa) About / A propos The High Throughput and Secure Networks (HTSN) Challenge program is hosting regular virtual seminar series to promote scientific information sharing, discussions, and interactions between researchers. https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/programs/high-throughput-secure-networks-challenge-program Le programme Réseaux Sécurisés à Haut Débit (RSHD) organise régulièrement des séries de séminaires virtuels pour promouvoir le partage d’informations scientifiques, les discussions et les interactions entre chercheurs. https://nrc.canada.ca/fr/recherche-developpement/recherche-collaboration/programmes/programme-defi-reseaux-securises-haut-debit NEW: In order to promote more open discussions/interactions, at the end of the presentation and Q/A, we will allow other experts in this field (quantum comm) to present very briefly their work (1 slide, 2 min max) or their company. Co-sponsored by: National Research Council, Canada. Optonique. Speaker(s): Lukas Scarfe, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/488212

Invited Talk: Opportunities and Applications of Quantum Information Science Research in Computing, Communications, and AI By Dr. Mahdi Chehimi 📅 Date: Tuesday, June 17th, 2025. 🕐 Time: 03:00 PM (Eastern) 📍 Location: SEB 3109, Spencer Engineering Building, Western University, London, Ontario. Abstract: Quantum computing and the future quantum Internet (QI) will transform today's communication networks and user experiences by providing unparalleled security levels, superior quantum computational powers, along with enhanced sensing accuracy and machine learning data processing capabilities. These features will be enabled through various quantum information science applications, like quantum key distribution, quantum machine learning, and distributed quantum computing. Towards enabling these applications, the QI requires the development of global quantum communication networks (QCNs) that enable the distribution of quantum information between distant nodes. In this talk, we will explore the fundamentals of quantum information sciences, their importance, future, and applications in computing, communications, and AI. Additionally, you will be introduced to the recent efforts and available studying and research opportunities in the different quantum fields (both Research, MS, and PhD opportunities) in my research group at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Bio:  Mahdi Chehimi received his PhD from the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech in 2024. He is now an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and his research interests include quantum communications, quantum networking, and quantum machine learning (QML). Mahdi received the best paper award at the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE) for his work on the scalability of quantum repeater networks. His seminal work on quantum federated learning (QFL) introduced its inaugural framework using quantum data, which pioneered one of the first open-source quantum federated datasets in literature. In 2022, Mahdi was a visiting scholar in the ACQuIRe Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In addition, Mahdi held a research stay in the summer of 2023 as a quantum scientist at Ingenii Inc., where his work focused on practical QML applications in drug discovery and medical imaging. Mahdi led the first Quantum Information Summit in Lebanon, held at AUB in 2023, and is organizing Lebanon’s first quantum hackathon at AUB in 2025. He organized and served as a technical program committee member in multiple QML workshops and tutorials at flagship IEEE conferences, and is a frequent reviewer at several IEEE journals. Mahdi is a Quantum Formalism fellow by Zaiku Group in the United Kingdom, where he received multiple grants to support his research on distributed QML applications and QFL. Co-sponsored by: The Optimized Computing and Communications (OC2) Lab at Western University. Room: SEB 3109, Bldg: Spencer Engineering Building, Western University, 151 Richmond St., London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7

Invited Talk: Opportunities and Applications of Quantum Information Science Research in Computing, Communications, and AI By Dr. Mahdi Chehimi 📅 Date: Tuesday, June 17th, 2025. 🕐 Time: 03:00 PM (Eastern) 📍 Location: SEB 3109, Spencer Engineering Building, Western University, London, Ontario. Abstract: Quantum computing and the future quantum Internet (QI) will transform today's communication networks and user experiences by providing unparalleled security levels, superior quantum computational powers, along with enhanced sensing accuracy and machine learning data processing capabilities. These features will be enabled through various quantum information science applications, like quantum key distribution, quantum machine learning, and distributed quantum computing. Towards enabling these applications, the QI requires the development of global quantum communication networks (QCNs) that enable the distribution of quantum information between distant nodes. In this talk, we will explore the fundamentals of quantum information sciences, their importance, future, and applications in computing, communications, and AI. Additionally, you will be introduced to the recent efforts and available studying and research opportunities in the different quantum fields (both Research, MS, and PhD opportunities) in my research group at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Bio:  Mahdi Chehimi received his PhD from the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech in 2024. He is now an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and his research interests include quantum communications, quantum networking, and quantum machine learning (QML). Mahdi received the best paper award at the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE) for his work on the scalability of quantum repeater networks. His seminal work on quantum federated learning (QFL) introduced its inaugural framework using quantum data, which pioneered one of the first open-source quantum federated datasets in literature. In 2022, Mahdi was a visiting scholar in the ACQuIRe Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In addition, Mahdi held a research stay in the summer of 2023 as a quantum scientist at Ingenii Inc., where his work focused on practical QML applications in drug discovery and medical imaging. Mahdi led the first Quantum Information Summit in Lebanon, held at AUB in 2023, and is organizing Lebanon’s first quantum hackathon at AUB in 2025. He organized and served as a technical program committee member in multiple QML workshops and tutorials at flagship IEEE conferences, and is a frequent reviewer at several IEEE journals. Mahdi is a Quantum Formalism fellow by Zaiku Group in the United Kingdom, where he received multiple grants to support his research on distributed QML applications and QFL. Co-sponsored by: The Optimized Computing and Communications (OC2) Lab at Western University. Room: SEB 3109, Bldg: Spencer Engineering Building, Western University, 151 Richmond St., London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7

IEEE IAS/PES Committee Meeting Bldg: 140, 1500 Quebec Ave, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7K 1V7, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/487735

Please join Dr. Ashutosh Dutta, Chief 5G Strategist , founding Co-Chair for the IEEE Future Networks , speech on 5G Security and AI/ML – Opportunities and Challenges. Bio: Ashutosh Dutta, Chief 5G Strategist and Director of Doctor of Engineering Program, Johns Hopkins University Ashutosh brings in a unique blend of industry and academic experience. He is currently Chief 5G Strategist at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Labs and serves as associate research professor and the director of Doctor of Engineering program at Johns Hopkins University in addition to his teaching. His past career spanning more than 30 years, includes Director of Technology Security and Lead Member of Technical Staff at AT&T, CTO of cybersecurity company NIKSUN, Senior Scientist in Telcordia Research, Director of Central Research Facility at Columbia University, and Computer Engineer with TATA Motors. Ashutosh has published more than 110 papers, IEEE-Wiley book on Handoff Optimization, 6 book chapters and has 31 issued patents. As a Technical Leader in 5G, Ashutosh has served as the founding Co-Chair for the IEEE Future Networks (https://futurenetworks.ieee.org/), IEEE Connecting The Unconnected ((http://ctu.ieee.org/)) and IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed ((http://testbed.ieee.org/)). Ashutosh served as IEEE Communications Society’s Distinguished Lecturer for 2017-2020. He has served in IEEE Communications Society’s director of Industry Outreach Board (2014-2019) and has been serving as Member-At-Large (2020-2025). He initiated and organized more than 90 5G Summits around the world ((http://www.5gsummit.org/)) and has served as founding Co-Chair of IEEE Future Networks World Forum (https://fnwf2025.ieee.org/) since 2018. Ashutosh has served as Workshop Co-Chair in ICC and Industry Forum and Exhibits Co-Chair in Globecom. His most notable awards include, 2022 North American Region Exceptional Service Award, 2009 IEEE MGA Leadership award, 2022 IEEE-USA George F. McClure Citation of Honor, and IPv6 Hall of Fame in 2024. Ashutosh is a Distinguished Alumnus of NIT Rourkela with BS in Electrical Engineering, MS in Computer Science from NJIT, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University under the supervision of Prof. Henning Schulzrinne. Ashutosh is a Fellow of IEEE, Distinguished member of ACM, Fellow of AAIA, and Member of National Academy of Artificial Intelligence. Ashutosh is currently a candidate for IEEE Communication Society's VP of Conferences. Abstract: Next generation cellular networks such as 5G and 6G promise to support emerging applications such as enhanced mobile broadband, mission critical applications for the first responder, remote surgery, and industrial IOT among others. While Network Function Virtualization and Software Defined Networking open up the door for programmable networks and rapid service creation, these also offer both security opportunities, and introduces additional challenges and complexities. The talk focuses on various security challenges and opportunities introduced by 5G enablers such as Hypervisor, Virtual Network Functions (VNFs), SDN controller, orchestrator, network slicing, cloud RAN, edge cloud, and virtual security function. This talk introduces threat taxonomy for 5G security from an end-to-end system perspective including, interfaces, protocols, potential threats introduced by these enablers, and associated mitigation techniques. Additionally, this talk highlights how AI/ML can help enhance security features of these networks and elaborates some adverse effects of AI/ML. Finally, the talk introduces some of the ongoing activities within various standards communities including open source consortiums, large scale NSF testbeds, and illustrates a few deployment use case scenarios. Speaker(s): Ashutosh, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/487714