Special Section on Next-Generation Networks for Industry 4.0: Using Cutting-Edge Technologies to Connect, Communicate, and Compute [Editorial]

The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is emerging and being envisioned with the application of smart devices that can connect, communicate, and compute (i.e., the 3Cs) along the product/service chain ubiquitously. These 3Cs are characterized by real-time and large-scale connection; massive integrated and heterogeneous data communication; and decentralized, crowd-sourced, and proactive computation as well as by data privacy and integrity protection throughout the value chain. Next-generation networks and security are indispensable to the implementation of these 3Cs to ensure the effective and safe operation and maintenance of Industry 4.0, such as real-time network accesses to workshop equipment, resource supply chain optimization, federated learning-based equipment fault diagnosis, trustworthy consumer preference prediction, etc. Understanding and addressing these premises and realities of next-generation networks and security are crucial for the advancement of this digital industrial transformation. Therefore, this special section is dedicated to providing cutting-edge technologies and novel studies. Three articles have been accepted by this special section.