IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications

IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications
Title	IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications
Discipline	Telecommunications, Networking
Editor	H. Vincent Poor
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Country	United States
History	1983–present
Frequency	Monthly
Openaccess	Hybrid
Impact	13.081
Impact-year	2022
Abbreviation	IEEE J-SAC
Website	https://www.comsoc.org/publications/journals/ieee-jsac
ISSN	0733-8716
EISSN	1558-0008
CODEN	ISACEM
OCLC	60625369

IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications is a premier monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and its IEEE Communications Society. It focuses on in-depth coverage of selected topics within the broad field of communications and networking, publishing high-quality papers that represent significant advances in theory and practice. Each issue is typically dedicated to a specific, timely theme, curated by guest editors who are leading experts from academia and industry. The journal is highly selective and is regarded as one of the most influential publications in electrical engineering and computer science.

Overview and Scope

The journal's primary mission is to provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art treatment of emerging and transformative areas in communications technology. Its scope encompasses all layers of communication systems, from physical layer signal processing to network protocols and applications. Notable thematic areas have included wireless communications, optical communications, network security, information theory, Internet of Things, machine learning for networks, and quantum communication. Unlike broad-scope journals, it adopts a focused approach, with each issue presenting a cohesive collection of papers that collectively define the cutting edge of a selected sub-discipline. This format encourages deep exploration and has made it a definitive reference for researchers at institutions like MIT, Stanford University, and Nokia Bell Labs.

Publication Details

The journal is published under the auspices of the IEEE Communications Society, a technical society within the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It was established in 1983 and maintains a monthly publication schedule. It is available in both print and electronic formats through the IEEE Xplore digital library. The journal operates under a hybrid open access model, allowing authors to choose between traditional subscription-based access or paying an article processing charge for immediate open publication. Its editorial board is chaired by the Editor-in-Chief, a position historically held by distinguished figures such as H. Vincent Poor of Princeton University and previous editors from UCLA and the University of Texas at Austin.

Editorial Process

The editorial process is rigorous and managed by an appointed Editor-in-Chief and a board of senior editors, often including renowned academics from institutions like Cambridge and Tsinghua University. For each thematic issue, a call for papers is issued, and a team of guest editors—experts in that specific field—is assembled to oversee the review. Manuscripts undergo a stringent double-blind peer review process, typically involving three or more reviewers from the global research community. The acceptance rate is historically low, emphasizing the journal's commitment to publishing only the most significant and novel contributions. The entire process, from submission to final decision, is managed electronically through the ScholarOne Manuscripts system.

Impact and Recognition

The journal consistently ranks among the top publications in its field by various metrics. According to the Journal Citation Reports, it has a high impact factor, often leading categories like "Telecommunications" and "Engineering, Electrical & Electronic." It is indexed in major databases including Scopus, INSPEC, and the Science Citation Index. Papers published in the journal are frequently highly cited and have contributed to foundational advances recognized by awards such as the IEEE Fellow grade, the Marconi Prize, and the IEEE Koji Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award. Its reputation makes it a target venue for leading researchers from corporations like Huawei, Qualcomm, and Google.

Special Issues and Series

A defining feature is its dedicated special issues, which are planned years in advance to capture pivotal technological shifts. Recent and notable series have focused on themes like "Communications for Network Intelligence," "Integrated Sensing and Communications," and "Next-Generation Multiple Access." The journal also periodically publishes series of issues on enduring topics, such as advances in 5G and 6G mobile networks, communications for artificial intelligence, and cyber-physical system security. Proposals for special issues are vetted by the editorial board and often arise from workshops held at major conferences like IEEE GLOBECOM and IEEE International Conference on Communications.

Related Publications

The journal is part of a larger ecosystem of prestigious publications by the IEEE Communications Society. Key related titles include IEEE Transactions on Communications, which covers general communications topics, IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, focusing on networking theory, and IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, for rapid publication of concise results. Other sister journals include IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management and IEEE Transactions on Molecular, Biological and Multi-Scale Communications. Together, these publications form a core literature for researchers and practitioners in the global telecommunications and computer networking communities.

Category:IEEE journals Category:Computer networking journals Category:Telecommunications engineering journals Category:Monthly journals Category:English-language journals Category:Publications established in 1983