Message from the Editor-in-Chief

As summer draws to a close, this August 2026 issue of IEEE Communications Magazine turns our attention to another challenge facing our community: how to build communications systems that are not only more capable, but also more sustainable, dependable, and beneficial to society. The articles in this issue examine a broad spectrum of topics, including net-zero 6G networks, deterministic networking, integrated sensing and communications, network sovereignty, human digital twins, and trustworthy AI. Together, these efforts reflect a growing emphasis on creating communications infrastructures that balance performance, resilience, sustainability, and human needs.