The Fifth Generation (5G) cellular communications system is expected to be commercialized by 2020. The evolution of mobile network architecture, along with incorporation of advanced cloud technologies and network function virtualization techniques, is an essential part in the development process of 5G mobile systems. The new network architecture needs to support a wide range of high data rate applications and services, offering capacities of up to multiple gigabits per second and meeting the further stringent latency and reliability requirements to support diverse applications. Important features of the new mobile network architecture include the centralization of network control and the automation of resource and system management. To achieve such high-performance targets, new technologies still need to be widely investigated.

Emerging paradigms, such as, and not limited to, Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) represent a first concrete step towards this direction, catalyzing the idea of decoupling software defined control plane from hardware driven data plane and the virtualization of network functions on general purpose hardware. There is an increasing trend towards implementing more and more functions of mobile communications systems in software, e.g., for signal and protocol processing. This will significantly influence the future developments of 5G technologies and architectures. In addition to savings in both operational and capital expenditure, the introduction of logically centralized controllers enables the employment of various intelligent control algorithms. However, how to explore the benefits of network function virtualization in the Radio Access Network (RAN) and the mobile Core Network (CN) is yet to be investigated.

This Special Issue is soliciting original high-impact submissions on topics relevant to future mobile network architecture as well as to 5G service features and modeling. Of particular interest are topics on how to incorporate advanced technologies, such as SDN, NFV, and cloud computing in the edification of flat and smart virtualized mobile networks. Technical as well as standards-relevant papers that address challenges in this emerging research area, such as optimization of virtual resource allocation and related flow control in heterogeneous 5G mobile networks are highly welcome. In addition, papers that explore methods of evaluating the performance of new network architecture, in terms of reliability, availability, scalability, and complexity are also solicited.

It shall be stressed out that the supplement on Communications Standards is intended to be a source of timely, significant, technical papers, articles, and applications notes that provide information for engineering practitioners at all levels of experience. The supplement envisions publications by and for practitioners. In this feature topic, topics of interest generally include, but are not limited to:
• Standardization activities for new mobile network infrastructure • Network and protocol support for 5G with SDN • Network functions virtualization for mobile cloud networks • Mobile cloud computing in 5G with SDN • Quality-of-Experience in 5G with SDN • Energy-efficiency in network elements supporting mobile cloud applications in 5G • Management and allocation of mobile cloud resources in 5G • Protocols and wireless network technologies for mobile cloud applications and virtualization in 5G • Security and privacy issues of 5G with SDN including authentication and authorization • Content distribution in 5G using virtualization • Testbeds and performance evaluation for 5G with SDN

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Prospective authors should follow the manuscript format of the IEEE Communications Magazine as described in the information for authors. All papers should be submitted in PDF format via the magazine's manuscript central at the following link https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/commag-ieee and selecting the Supplement on Communications Standards. The corresponding author is also requested to send the title of the submission and the list of authors by email to 5gnewnet@gmail.com.

IMPORTANT DATES
• Submission Deadline: 15 Dec. 2014
• Notification of Acceptance 1 Mar. 2015
• Final Manuscript Due: 15 April 2015
• Publication Date: June 2015

GUEST EDITORS
- Prof. Kan Zheng, BUPT, China
- Dr. Tarik Taleb, NEC Europe Labs, Germany
- Dr. Adlen Ksentini, University of Rennes 1/ INRIA, France
- Dr. Chih-Lin I, China Mobile, China
- Prof. Thomas Magedanz, Fraunhofer Fokus, Germany
- Prof. Mehmet Ulema, Manhattan College, USA