In modern digital communication systems, due to the existence of attenuation, noise, and interference, information can be corrupted during transmission or while being stored in the data memorizers. Error control codes (ECCs), which correct errors by introducing data redundancy, are widely applied in modern communication systems to improve the trade-off bandwidth-power efficiency and the reliability of data memorizer.

In the past few years, significant evolvement has been observed in ECCs, for example, turbo-like codes, low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, polar codes, and fountain codes. In particular, the rediscovery of LDPC codes and the invention of polar codes are recognized as two significant breakthroughs. The excellent performance of these capacity-approaching codes has enabled them to be widely adopted in the existing and the next-generation communication systems, including wireless communications, wireless caching, optical communications, flash memories, computer hard drives, sensor networks, distributed storage systems, and deep-space probing. Since these codes have various error performance and implementation complexities, it becomes highly crucial and interesting to sketch the pros and cons of these leading-edge codes, in terms of both theoretical advances and implementation aspects.

This special issue aims to explore the theory and applications of modern ECCs, with respect to the next-generation communication and data storage systems. We especially welcome original results in theory, algorithm, and applications of error control coding such as commutations and networks. The papers will be peer-reviewed and will be selected on the basis of quality and relevance to the theme of this special issue.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Theory, algorithm, and applications of error control coding including turbo codes, LDPC codes, spatially coupled codes, polar codes, fountain codes, and lattice codes
• Coded modulation and demodulation for 5G, adaptive modulation, and coding for 5G system
• Security channel coding
• Coding for wireless sensor networks and coding for wireless multiple access networks
• Coding for space communications
• Coding for distributed storage systems and other systems