Xavier Costa-Pérez is an ICREA Research Professor and Scientific Director at the i2cat Research Center, concurrently leading 6G R&D at NEC Laboratories Europe. His team consistently delivers impactful research, evidenced by publications in top-tier scientific venues and numerous awards for successful technology transfers. Notably, his innovations have been integrated into commercial mobile phones, base stations, and network management systems, and have spurred the creation of multiple start-ups. He is a recognized contributor to multiple standard specifications who actively participated in bodies such as IEEE 802.11, WiFi Alliance, and 3GPP. He has also served on organizing committees for prominent conferences (e.g., ACM MOBICOM, IEEE INFOCOM) and as an Editor for leading journals like IEEE TMC, TCOM, as well as Elsevier COMCOM. Dr. Costa-Pérez holds M.Sc. and Ph.D. Telecom degrees from UPC and was recipient of a national award. He is the inventor of approximately 100 granted patents.
Research interests
The ever-wider availability of technologies such as mobile networks, artificial intelligence, cloud services, data analytics and ICT platforms is dramatically altering the way we live, work and interact – in what is usually referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The upcoming 6G disruptive technologies represent a key pillar for enabling this digital revolution unfolding around us. In contrast to previous mobile network generations, a key new aspect for the mobile industry moving forward is the need to expand the mobile ecosystem to also incorporate industry verticals like automotive, manufacturing, smart-grids and health. While early research and field-trials results are promising, The AI-driven automation of mobile networks for a cost-efficient digital transformation (DX) is still at its infancy and will require of a huge research effort to deliver on the DX promises in the next decades.
Selected publications
- Apostolakis N, Sierra-Obea M, Gramaglia M, Ayala-Romero JA, Saavedra AG, Fiore M, Banchs A & Costa-Perez X 2025, 'Quantum Computing in the RAN with Qu4Fec: Closing Gaps Towards Quantum-based FEC Processors', Proceedings of the acm on measurement and analysis of computing systems, 9 - 2 - 36.
- Lasierra O, Ludant N, Garcia-Aviles G, Municio E, Noubir G, Skarmeta A & Costa-Pérez X 2025, 'Fact-Checking 5G Security: Bridging the Gap Between Expectations and Reality', Ieee open journal of the communications society, 6 - 6242 - 6257.
- Baguer P, Lozano JXS, Encinas-Lago G, Mursia P, Municio E, Rossanese M, Sciancalepore V & Costa-Perez X 2025, 'Echoes: An Open RAN-Enabled System for Indoors Localization Using Smart Surfaces', Ieee open journal of the communications society, 6 - 7215 - 7232.
- Aslan F, Ayala-Romero JA, Garcia-Saavedra A, Costa-Perez X & Iosifidis G 2025, 'FairRIC: Real-time Fair Allocation in O-RAN with Shared Computing', Ieee infocom 2025-ieee conference on computer communications.
- Lozano JXS, Ayala-Romero JA, Garcia-Saavedra A & Costa-Perez X 2025, 'Kairos: Energy-Efficient Radio Unit Control for O-RAN via Advanced Sleep Modes', Ieee infocom 2025-ieee conference on computer communications.
- Brik B, Chergui H, Zanzi L, Devoti F, Ksentini A, Siddiqui MS, Costa-Perez X & Verikoukis C 2025, 'Explainable AI in 6G O-RAN: A Tutorial and Survey on Architecture, Use Cases, Challenges, and Future Research', Ieee communications surveys and tutorials, 27 - 5 - 2826 - 2859.
Selected research activities
- ACM MSWIM Conference - Keynote Speaker
- ACM MOBICOM Conference – Invited WS Speaker and Panelist
- IEEE Future Networks World Forum – Symposisum Organizer
- Tutorial Chair at IEEE WCNC
- Special Session Chair at EUCNC
- Panelist at IEEE ICMLCN
- Lead Guest Editor at IEEE VTM SI on "AI for 6G O-RAN Intelligent, Cost-Efficient and Secure Automation"
- AAAI Conference - Senior Program Committee Member
- IoT World Congress – Industry Solutions Award - “Hachigo: Unmasking 5G Security”