SATNAC 2024: Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference 2024 Skukuza Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park​ Hazyview, South Africa, October 6-8, 2024

The 26th Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) is scheduled to take place at the Skukuza Safari Lodge and Conference Centre, Kruger National Park from 6-9 October 2024, under the theme ‘The AI-Driven Hyperconnected Future: co-creating shared value.’

Hosted by Telkom, SATNAC is a premier conference that provides a unique platform for industry-academic engagement. SATNAC is designed to cultivate strong collaboration between industry, government and academia, and includes research tracks for full and short papers, industry-led sessions, and topical expert engagements. This approach underscores the essential that research plays in driving innovation within industry and society.

The SATNAC technical program is driven by research and technology teams at Telkom and Openserve in close collaboration with academics at Telkom Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and research partners in South Africa and beyond.

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. 

Authors are invited to submit full papers (10 pages maximum, single-spaced, two-column, standard IEEE conference format) or work-in-progress papers (2 - 3 pages, single-spaced, two-column).

All full papers will undergo double-blind peer review. Author names and affiliations must be removed for the review process.

Submitted papers will be evaluated based on:

• originality of contribution;
• relevance to the conference;
• technical/scientific merit; and
• presentation and clarity

List of Topics

Wireless Communications and Next-Generation Technologies:

• Mobile technologies (LTE, LTE-A, 5G, New Radio), 5G and beyond
• Low Power Wide Area Networking, Narrowband IoT
• Next Generation Wi-Fi, Next Generation MIMO and Massive MIMO, Cognitive Radio, Sensor Networks, Open RAN and Cloud RAN

Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Applications:

• Natural Language Processing (NLP), Speech Recognition, African Languages, Data Generation and Curation 
• Pattern Recognition, Computer Vision, Extended Reality, Metaverse
• IoT applications, Smart Cities, Advanced Sensing, Virtual Collaboration

Network Operations and Management:

• AI and Automation for Network Optimization
• Programmable Networks, SDN and NFV
• Network Planning and Resource Management

Sustainability and Social Impact:

• Community Networks, Rural Connectivity, Affordable Connectivity, Digital Inclusion, Accessible Technologies
• Smart Grid and Alternative Energy
• Case studies on technology for social impact and community development, particularly in underserved regions

Security, Privacy, and Trust:

• Network Security, Secure Network Architectures, Cybersecurity challenges

• Information Privacy, Cryptography, Blockchain
• Intersection of AI and cybersecurity, e.g., AI-driven threat detection and response mechanisms, Trustworthy AI

Core Network Technologies and Architecture:

• Core IP Networks, EPC, Multi-tenancy and Network Slicing
• Backhaul and Fronthaul Networking
• Routing and Congestion

Data Centers, Cloud and Edge Computing:

• Cloud Computing, Scalability and Cloud Elasticity, Adoption and Migration
• High-Performance Computing, Edge Computing, Fog Computing
• Green Data Centers: energy-efficiency and renewable energy integration

Network Standards and Regulatory:

• Radio Spectrum Management
• Coexistence in Unlicensed and Shared Spectrum Bands
• ITU, ETSI, IEEE, 3GPP

Committees

Technical Program Committee

• Josia Chavula- TPC Chairperson
• Anton Taute- Vice Chairperson
• Babedi Modieginyane- Publications Chairperson
• Joyce Mwangama- Co-Chairperson Publications

Organizing Committee

• Maletsabisa Molapo- Orgarniser
• Christobelle Loock- Orgarniser
• Babedi Modieginyane- Orgarniser
• Mooketsi Mocumi- Publicity Chairperson

Digital Experience Team

• Moipone Tsaoane- Social Media Coordinator
• Johan Fick- Digital Content Coordinator

Steering Committee

• Mmaki Jantjies- Conference Chairperson
• Mooketsi Mocumi- Publicity Chairperson
• Pushkar Gokhale- Commitee Member
• Lebo Masalesa- Commitee Member
• Maletsabisa Molapo- Secretariat
• Christobelle Loock- Liason officer

Venue

Skukuza Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to satnac@telkom.co.za