Agent-Native Wireless Communications: Architecture, Opportunities, and the Road Ahead

Abstract: Future wireless networks are moving toward autonomous service operation, where network control and resource management need to respond to time-varying radio conditions and evolving service objectives. To address this shift, this article develops an agent-native wireless communication framework that characterizes the interplay between agent intelligence and communication systems. In this framework, the coupling is organized around \emph{agents for communications} and \emph{communications for agents}. For agent-native operation, the architecture is organized around deployable computing infrastructure, programmable open radio access network (O-RAN) software, and controllable communication interfaces. Based on this architecture, \emph{agents for communications} addresses the use of agents in communication-system design and operation, including agent-generated communication software and agent-driven adaptive wireless optimization. On the other side, \emph{communications for agents} addresses wireless service support for agent operation, including network-supported single-agent loops and network-assisted multi-agent coordination. Finally, it outlines promising research directions for measurable, safe, and interoperable deployment of agent-native wireless communications.