Architectural Frontiers: Building the 6G Ecosystem through AI-RAN, NTN, ISAC, and RIS

As the telecommunications industry transitions from 5G-Advanced toward the initial blueprints of 6G, the Radio Access Network (RAN) is undergoing a fundamental paradigm shift. No longer a rigid, connectivity-only infrastructure, the "New RAN" is evolving into a dynamic, intelligence-native, and multi-dimensional fabric. This keynote presentation provides a deep technical dive into the architectural innovations and disruptive technologies that are redefining the wireless landscape.
We begin by exploring the rise of AI-native RAN (AI-RAN). Unlike previous generations where AI was an "add-on" for optimization, the next-generation RAN integrates machine learning directly into the protocol stack. We will examine how this enables real-time radio resource management, predictive beamforming, and autonomous interference mitigation, shifting the network from reactive to proactive management.
The session then expands the network’s physical boundaries through Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). We will discuss the architectural challenges of integrating Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, HAPS (High-Altitude Platform Stations), and UAVs into a unified 3D network topology, ensuring seamless handovers and ubiquitous coverage in even the most remote environments.
A central focus will be placed on the convergence of the physical and digital worlds through Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC). By allowing the network to act as a high-resolution radar, ISAC transforms base stations into environmental sensors capable of localization and gesture recognition, opening new verticals in smart cities and autonomous transport. This is further enhanced by Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS)—smart metasurfaces that turn the wireless propagation environment into a programmable asset, allowing operators to "steer" signals around obstacles and eliminate dead zones with minimal energy consumption.
Finally, we synthesize these technologies within the context of New RAN Architectures, specifically focusing on the maturation of Open RAN (O-RAN), cloud-native disaggregation (CU/DU split), and the move toward a fully virtualized, energy-efficient edge. This presentation offers a comprehensive roadmap for researchers and engineers to navigate the complexities of a hyper-connected, sensing-capable, and AI-driven future.

Youssef Nasser obtained his executive MBA from ESCP Business School in Paris, in 2022, and his PhD in wireless communications in 2006 from National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble. He is currently the Director of 5G/6G Business Unit with Greenerwave, a French startup developing reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and smart antennas.
Youssef is a Senior Executive with over twenty years’ experience in the Telecom business, shared between academia and industry including major industrial groups. His motivation and passion for technology have led him into the entrepreneurship world through a startup on spectrum management.
Along his career, he has successfully led major R&D and industrial projects in the telecom industry including but not limited to 4G, 5G, DVB. Some of these projects have received gold and silver awards from the European Commission for their achievements. He has deployed several technological solutions in telecom sector and actively contributed to telecom standards. He has chaired industry associations and technology development conferences. Youssef Nasser published over 130 articles in internationally renowned journals and conferences. His areas of interest are mobile communications systems, spectrum management, telecom strategies.