IEEE International Conference

Program and Tracks

Conference tracks for RTC 2026

Research Track

Track Chair: Mihaela Chelaru · Co-Chairs: Mounish Sunkara, Eiji Oki

The Research Track invites paper submissions in interactive multimedia communications. Accepted papers will be submitted for publication in IEEE Xplore. The Technical Program inherits the 17-year legacy of the IPTComm Conference and the CQR workshop history (IEEE CQR).

Call for Papers and submission guidelines →

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. As mobile‑data consumption accelerates, operators are turning to Open RAN, cloud‑native 5G cores, network APIs, and AI‑driven automation for greater flexibility, efficiency, and scalability.

This track explores how programmability empowers engineers to automate and scale services, examines technical and regulatory hurdles, highlights cross‑disciplinary opportunities, and introduces the emerging "Telco as a Platform" model.

WebRTC & Real-Time Applications

Track Chair: Vishnu Challagulla · Co-Chair: Advait Patel

Real-time applications enable live audio, video, and data transfers. WebRTC is the W3C/IETF standard used across social media, telecommunications, healthcare, education, broadcasting, and more.

In this track we will explore WebRTC standards and market status, open source updates, best practices, scaling strategies, leading use cases, and AI integrations.

Next Generation Emergency Communications Services

Track Chair: Carol Davids

Under FCC regulations (47 CFR 9.31), 911 Authorities can request IP-based SIP delivery of 911 traffic aligned with NG911 standards. Several U.S. states and Canadian provinces are advancing Next Generation deployments.

As multimedia and sensor data challenge human capacity, technologists turn to AI and ML for situational awareness, location accuracy, and life-saving outcomes. Join us as RTC intersects public safety.

AI in RTC

Track Chair: Joe Smetana · 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.

Topics include LLMs and generative AI for voice, NLU/NLP and speech AI, real-time analytics, edge AI, voice biometrics, AI safety and privacy, and interoperability standards.

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. 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. A single registration allows you to attend sessions in either event.

The Call for Papers applies to both events; accepted CQR papers will be presented in the Research Track with CQR origin identified. Learn more at ieee-cqr.org.

  1. Emerging Technologies and Applications
  2. Building high-performing networks and systems
  3. Next-Generation Mobile Networks
  4. Security, Quality, and Reliability
  5. Network Operations and Resource Management