Tracks
- Research Track
- Programmable Real-Time Networks and Applications
- WebRTC & Real-Time Applications
- Next Generation Emergency Communications
- AI in RTC
- IEEE Communications Quality and Reliability Workshop
Research Track
Track Chair: Mihaela Chelaru, Track Co-Chairs: Mounish Sunkara, Eiji Oki
The Research Track of RTC & CQR invites paper submissions in interactive multimedia communications describing architectures, design, theoretical results, experiments, innovative systems, prototyping efforts, and case studies. Papers that are accepted and presented at the conference will be submitted for publication in IEEE Xplore.
We are interested in works at the intersection of multimedia interactive communications with technologies in internet of things, vehicular networking, confidential computing, machine learning, network management, programmable network services, security, privacy, machine learning, voice technologies, blockchain, gaming, and robotics. The Technical Program inherits the 17-year legacy of the IPTComm Conference (http://iptcomm.org/archive.html) as well as the over 30-year history of the CQR workshop (https://cqr2024.ieee-cqr.org/about/past-workshops).
The online version of this Call for Papers and detailed submission guidelines can be found here.
Important dates for paper submissions
- Paper submission deadline: Friday, July 17, 2026 – 23:59 (Chicago time)
- Notification of acceptance: Monday, August 17, 2026
- Final camera-ready submission: Monday, September 7, 2026
Programmable Real-Time Networks and Applications
Track Chairs: Maureen Stillman, Chris Mayer
Programmable, cloud‑native real‑time networks are reshaping how communication service providers build, operate, and innovate on top of their infrastructure. As mobile‑data consumption accelerates and the cost of traditional network upgrades rises, operators are increasingly turning to technologies such as Open RAN, cloud‑native 5G cores, network APIs, and AI‑driven automation to achieve greater flexibility, efficiency, and scalability.
This transition, however, is not straightforward. Operators face strategic and operational questions about whether the benefits of modernization outweigh the costs of migrating legacy systems, how to reconcile data‑sovereignty and privacy requirements with distributed cloud architectures, and whether public‑cloud reliance introduces unacceptable latency or reliability risks for networks built on five‑9s performance expectations. Additional concerns include the competitive dynamics between hyperscalers and telcos and the long‑term implications of vendor lock‑in.
The track positions participants to understand both the promise and the complexity of this industry shift. It explores how programmability empowers engineers to automate and scale services, examines the technical and regulatory hurdles slowing adoption, highlights cross‑disciplinary opportunities unlocked by programmable networks, and introduces the emerging “Telco as a Platform” model—where network capabilities become building blocks for new applications and services.
WebRTC & Real-Time Applications
Track Chair: Vishnu Challagulla, Co-Chair: Advait Patel
Real-time applications are now a critical part of our distributed lives, enabling us to stay connected through live audio and video, as well as real-time data transfers. WebRTC emerged as the standard for allowing easy access to the microphone and camera via the browser, enabling peer-to-peer video, audio, and data connections directly between browsers.
Since 2020, the usage of WebRTC grew more dramatically, increasing the need for scalability, higher quality, and usability. As an official standard announced by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), WebRTC is now being used in billions of browsers, mobile phones, and other devices across various industries such as social media, telecommunications, healthcare, education, broadcasting, and more.
In this track we will:
- Explore the current status of WebRTC from both standards and market perspectives
- Learn about the latest Open Source project updates
- Delve into best practices for implementing real-time applications using WebRTC
- Learn how people are scaling WebRTC
- Examine leading use cases for WebRTC applications and integrations with AI and much more!
Join us to discover the latest advancements in WebRTC and explore its potential for enhancing modern applications.
Next Generation Emergency Communications Services
Track Chair: Carol Davis
Under new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations (47 CFR 9.31), a 911 Authority can request the delivery of 911 traffic in an IP-based SIP format, provided it meets specified infrastructure, authorization, and certification requirements. The authority must designate delivery points and properly notify the originating service provider. Furthermore, the request must align with NG911 standards to ensure seamless connectivity with Next Generation 911 Core Services, such as Location Validation and Information Server integration. Additional certifications and commitments from relevant service providers are also necessary.
Several U.S. states have initiated early deployments of Next Generation services, while Canada has announced the rollout of end-to-end NG911 services in its western provinces. Meanwhile, Canadian telecommunications companies are weighing plans to phase out their legacy networks. Core Service Providers are vying for customers as the move toward Next Generation migration accelerates.
As more end-to-end environments go live, the influx of handset-based location services, multimedia—such as pictures and video—and real-time sensor data will challenge human capacity to manage vast amounts of incident-related imagery. This emerging reality could place significant strain on critical personnel. To address these challenges, technologists will turn to Artificial and Assistive Intelligence, along with Machine Learning, in pursuit of the ideal “Goldilocks Zone” a balance where these advanced tools enhance situational awareness, improve location accuracy, and leverage past experiences to save lives and reduce suffering.
Join us to hear from the people who are writing this next exciting chapter as Real Time Communications intersects Public Safety!
AI in RTC
Track Chair: Joe Smetana, Track Co-Chairs: Anokh Kishore, Biswaranjan Senapati, Stephen Xia
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping real-time communications (RTC) end-to-end—from how we capture, transport, and optimize live media to how we understand speech, generate responses, and automate actions during a conversation. This track brings together the conference’s focus on emerging technologies in RTC with the latest advances in speech, NLU/NLP, and Large Language Models (LLMs) to explore practical, deployable AI that improves quality, efficiency, and user experience.
Sessions will highlight how AI/ML can be embedded into RTC platforms and workflows (e.g., at the edge, in the cloud, or in hybrid models), and will address the real-world constraints that matter in production: latency, reliability, interoperability, privacy, security, and responsible AI. Attendees will hear from industry practitioners and academic researchers on what’s working today, what’s coming next, and how to adopt these capabilities safely at scale.
We will cover topics including:
- LLMs and generative AI for real-time voice and conversational systems (agentic workflows, summarization, next-best-action, and automation)
- NLU/NLP and speech AI: ASR, TTS, intent, sentiment/safety, and conversational design for high-quality user experiences
- Real-time analytics and Big Data integration to improve QoE/QoS, detect anomalies, and optimize operations
- Edge AI for low-latency RTC (media intelligence, noise suppression, personalization, and on-device inference)
- Voice biometrics, authentication, and security for AI-enhanced communications
- AI safety, privacy, and responsible deployment in RTC (data governance, secure architectures, and ethical considerations)
- Interoperability and standards for integrating AI capabilities across vendors, platforms, and networks
We invite researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners to share results, lessons learned, and forward-looking ideas that advance AI-powered RTC. Join us to explore how AI can make real-time communications smarter, safer, and more effective across consumer and enterprise applications.
IEEE International Communications Quality and Reliability Workshop (CQR 2026)
Track Chairs: Taha Sajid, Chris Mayer
The IEEE CQR (Communications Quality and Reliability) International Workshop is held annually with the purpose of bringing together industry and academic experts to present and discuss communications quality, reliability and security issues as they relate to real world issues. The output from the workshops adds to the community’s body of knowledge and serves to inform, help form opinions, and to assist in the development of best practices and relevant standards.
We are pleased to announce that, this year, the CQR Workshop will be collocated with the RTC Conference at IIT to the benefit of participants in both events. We see huge synergies between the two and know that our speakers and attendees will as well. A single registration allows you to attend sessions in either event. The Call for Papers applies to both events, and all papers that are accepted for publication will be presented in the Research Track of the RTC Conference with their origin as CQR-related appropriately identified.
At the annual workshop, participants gather to present research results, share visions and ideas, obtain updates on latest technologies and expand professional and social networks. These activities are realized through IEEE CQR’s multiple diversified and exciting programs, workshops, and outreach activities. Additional information about the CQR TC can be found at https://cqr2024.ieee-cqr.org/about.
- Emerging Technologies and Applications
- Building high-performing networks and systems
- Next-Generation Mobile Networks
- Security, Quality, and Reliability
- Network Operations and Resource Management
