Journal profile · ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICTELECO-TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Physical Communication
ISSN 1874-4907 · eISSN 1876-3219 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS
Physical Communication: CAS Zone 4 · Computer Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.9; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,450; review about 87 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 357 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Physical Communication is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 4 of Computer Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Advanced Wireless Communication Technologies, Advanced MIMO Systems Optimization and Cooperative Communication and Network Coding, together about 33.1% of its articles. Its main subfields are Electrical and Electronic Engineering. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
PHYCOM: Physical Communication is an international and archival journal providing complete coverage of all topics of interest to those involved in all aspects of physical layer communications. Theoretical research contributions presenting new techniques, concepts or analyses, applied contributions reporting on experiences and experiments, and tutorials are published.Topics of interest include but are not limited to:Physical layer issues of Wireless Local Area Networks, WiMAX, Wireless Mesh Networks, Sensor and Ad Hoc Networks, PCS Systems; Radio access protocols and algorithms for the physical layer; Spread Spectrum Communications; Channel Modeling; Detection and Estimation; Modulation and Coding; Multiplexing and Carrier Techniques; Broadband Wireless Communications; Wireless Personal Communications; Multi-user Detection; Signal Separation and Interference rejection: Multimedia Communications over Wireless; DSP Applications to Wireless Systems; Experimental and Prototype Results; Multiple Access Techniques; Space-time Processing; Synchronization Techniques; Error Control Techniques; Cryptography; Software Radios; Tracking; Resource Allocation and Inference Management; Multi-rate and Multi-carrier Communications; Cross layer Design and Optimization; Propagation and Channel Characterization; OFDM Systems; MIMO Systems; Ultra-Wideband Communications; Cognitive Radio System Architectures; Platforms and Hardware Implementations for the Support of Cognitive, Radio Systems; Cognitive Radio Resource Management and Dynamic Spectrum Sharing.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICTELECO-TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Editor-in-chief Michalis MatthaiouPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 29 in mainland China (about 47%); most named Mainland China 29, United Kingdom 11, United States 6, Singapore 3, India 2 (62 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Advanced Wireless Communication TechnologiesEngineering13.4%
- Advanced MIMO Systems OptimizationEngineering12.3%
- Cooperative Communication and Network CodingComputer Science7.4%
- Advanced Wireless Communication TechniquesEngineering5.3%
- Wireless Communication Security TechniquesEngineering4.9%
- Energy Harvesting in Wireless NetworksEngineering4.8%
- UAV Applications and OptimizationEngineering4.8%
- Optical Wireless Communication TechnologiesEngineering4.2%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Computer Science Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Engineering, Electrical & Electronic | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Telecommunications | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Computer Science Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Engineering, Electrical & Electronic | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Telecommunications | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Engineering, Electrical & Electronic | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Telecommunications | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 1.9LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 1.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 4.7LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 4.7Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.46LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.67LetPub ·
- h-index
- 27LetPub ·
- h-index
- 62OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 682OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.89OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 10.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 7.32%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 335LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 2,834 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 407 | 47 | 92 |
| 2025 | 357 | 37 | 651 |
| 2024 | 280 | 28 | 1,230 |
| 2023 | 242 | 32 | 2,205 |
| 2022 | 232 | 27 | 2,368 |
| 2021 | 234 | 32 | 2,753 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
87 dayssubmission to acceptance
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Submission to first decision
- 1 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 36 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 87 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 2,450 / EUR 2,290 / GBP 1,960 / JPY 303,870 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 2,490 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare7 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX and Word
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted4
- applied contributionsTheoretical research contributions presenting new techniques, concepts or analyses, applied contributions reporting on experiences and experiments, and tutorial…Length not stated
- theoretical research contributionsTheoretical research contributions presenting new techniques, concepts or analyses, applied contributions reporting on experiences and experiments, and tutorial…Length not stated
- tutorialTheoretical research contributions presenting new techniques, concepts or analyses, applied contributions reporting on experiences and experiments, and tutorial…Length not stated
- tutorialsTheoretical research contributions presenting new techniques, concepts or analyses, applied contributions reporting on experiences and experiments, and tutorial…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability
Data statement required at submission Model summary
To foster transparency, you are required to state the availability of any data at submission.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed, does not count as prior publication Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1874-4907
- Electronic ISSN
- 1876-3219
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Physical Communication
What CAS zone is Physical Communication in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Physical Communication is in Zone 4 of Computer Science, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Engineering, Electrical & Electronic / Telecommunications. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Computer Science. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Physical Communication?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.9; CiteScore 4.7, h-index 62.
How long does peer review take at Physical Communication?
The publisher reports about 87 days (submission to acceptance). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Physical Communication?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX and Word; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Physical Communication based?
Of the 62 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 29 (about 47%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (29), United Kingdom (11) and United States (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Physical Communication?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Physical Communication is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Physical Communication open access, and what is the APC?
Physical Communication is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,450.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .