mlsanityData to 7 Oct 2026

Diffusion Models for Future Networks and Communications: A Comprehensive Survey

arXiv 2508.01586 ↗First posted 3 Aug 2025cs.LG cs.AI cs.ETcited by 6

On the map: Diffusion models → Diffusion for compression and wireless

Abstract (arXiv)

The rise of Generative AI (GenAI) in recent years has catalyzed transformative advances in wireless communications and networks. Among the members of the GenAI family, Diffusion Models (DMs) have risen to prominence as a powerful option, capable of handling complex, high-dimensional data distribution, as well as consistent, noise-robust performance. In this survey, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the theoretical foundations and practical applications of DMs across future communication systems. We first provide an extensive tutorial of DMs and demonstrate how they can be applied to enhance optimizers, reinforcement learning and incentive mechanisms, which are popular approaches for problems in wireless networks. Then, we review and discuss the DM-based methods proposed for emerging issues in future networks and communications, including channel modeling and estimation, signal detection and data reconstruction, integrated sensing and communication, resource management in edge computing networks, semantic communications and other notable issues. We conclude the survey with highlighting technical limitations of DMs and their applications, as well as discussing future research directions.

Key facts. Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Diffusion for compression and wireless, one of 14 directions in Diffusion models. Builds on 143 of its 236 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 3 Aug 2025.

Builds on

143 of 236 references.

Closest ancestors · 34

Same direction, newest first

  1. 2025SCDM: Score-Based Channel Denoising Model for Digital Semantic Communications18 Jan
  2. 2025Decision Transformers for RIS-Assisted Systems with Diffusion Model-Based Channel Acquisition14 Jan
  3. 2025Semantics-Guided Diffusion for Deep Joint Source-Channel Coding in Wireless Image Transmission2 Jan
  4. 2024Diffusion Models as Network Optimizers: Explorations and Analysis1 Nov
  5. 2024DRL Optimization Trajectory Generation via Wireless Network Intent-Guided Diffusion Models for Optimizing Resource Allocation18 Oct
  6. 2024Lightweight Diffusion Models for Resource-Constrained Semantic Communication3 Oct
  7. 2024DiffCP: Ultra-Low Bit Collaborative Perception via Diffusion Model29 Sep
  8. 2024Language-oriented Semantic Communication for Image Transmission with Fine-Tuned Diffusion Model25 Sep
  9. 2024Maximum-Likelihood Estimation Based on Diffusion Model For Wireless Communications21 Sep
  10. 2024Generating High Dimensional User-Specific Wireless Channels using Diffusion Models5 Sep
  11. 2024Generative Diffusion Models for High Dimensional Channel Estimation20 Aug
  12. 2024RadioDiff: An Effective Generative Diffusion Model for Sampling-Free Dynamic Radio Map Construction16 Aug
22 more
  1. 2024Multimodal generative semantic communication based on latent diffusion model10 Aug
  2. 2024Goal-Oriented Semantic Communication for Wireless Image Transmission via Stable Diffusion1 Aug
  3. 2024Diffusion-Driven Semantic Communication for Generative Models with Bandwidth Constraints26 Jul
  4. 2024Diffusion Model Based Resource Allocation Strategy in Ultra-Reliable Wireless Networked Control Systems22 Jul
  5. 2024DM-MIMO: Diffusion Models for Robust Semantic Communications over MIMO Channels7 Jul
  6. 2024Generative Artificial Intelligence Assisted Wireless Sensing: Human Flow Detection in Practical Communication Environments22 Apr
  7. 2024A Massive MIMO Sampling Detection Strategy Based on Denoising Diffusion Model20 Apr
  8. 2024RF-Diffusion: Radio Signal Generation via Time-Frequency Diffusion14 Apr
  9. 2024Latency-Aware Generative Semantic Communications with Pre-Trained Diffusion Models25 Mar
  10. 2024Diffusion-based Generative Prior for Low-Complexity MIMO Channel Estimation6 Mar
  11. 2024DMCE: Diffusion Model Channel Enhancer for Multi-User Semantic Communication Systems29 Jan
  12. 2023Conditional Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models for Data Reconstruction Enhancement in Wireless Communications30 Oct
  13. 2023High Perceptual Quality Wireless Image Delivery with Denoising Diffusion Models27 Sep
  14. 2023CDDM: Channel Denoising Diffusion Models for Wireless Semantic Communications16 Sep
  15. 2023Probabilistic Constellation Shaping With Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models: A Novel Approach15 Sep
  16. 2023Diffusion models for audio semantic communication13 Sep
  17. 2023Adversarial Score-Based Generative Models for MMSE-achieving AmBC Channel Estimation11 Sep
  18. 2023Generative Diffusion Models for Radio Wireless Channel Modelling and Sampling10 Aug
  19. 2023Enhancing Deep Reinforcement Learning: A Tutorial on Generative Diffusion Models in Network Optimization10 Aug
  20. 2023CDDM: Channel Denoising Diffusion Models for Wireless Communications16 May
  21. 2023Latent Semantic Diffusion-based Channel Adaptive De-Noising SemCom for Future 6G Systems19 Apr
  22. 2022MIMO Channel Estimation using Score-Based Generative Models14 Apr

Other references · 109

  1. 2020Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Modelscited by 20,851
  2. 2015U-Net: Convolutional Networks for Biomedical Image Segmentationcited by 19,604
  3. 2021High-Resolution Image Synthesis with Latent Diffusion Modelscited by 18,694
  4. 2020Denoising Diffusion Implicit Modelscited by 9,655
  5. 2020Score-Based Generative Modeling through Stochastic Differential Equationscited by 8,964
  6. 2015Deep Unsupervised Learning using Nonequilibrium Thermodynamicscited by 7,005
  7. 2022Classifier-Free Diffusion Guidancecited by 5,717
  8. 2022Generative Adversarial Networkscited by 5,603
  9. 2019Generative Modeling by Estimating Gradients of the Data Distributioncited by 4,067
  10. 2021Improved Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Modelscited by 3,736
  11. 2018Federated Optimization in Heterogeneous Networkscited by 2,971
  12. 2022Diffusion Models: A Comprehensive Survey of Methods and Applicationscited by 1,107
38 more
  1. 2020Improved Techniques for Training Score-Based Generative Modelscited by 1,036
  2. 2022Planning with Diffusion for Flexible Behavior Synthesiscited by 1,023
  3. 2022Diffusion Models in Vision: A Surveycited by 1,008
  4. 2023Training Diffusion Models with Reinforcement Learningcited by 939
  5. 2021Maximum Likelihood Training of Score-Based Diffusion Modelscited by 670
  6. 2022Diffusion Policies as an Expressive Policy Class for Offline Reinforcement Learningcited by 543
  7. 2022Fast Sampling of Diffusion Models with Exponential Integratorcited by 526
  8. 2020Monotonic Value Function Factorisation for Deep Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learningcited by 475
  9. 2023IDQL: Implicit Q-Learning as an Actor-Critic Method with Diffusion Policiescited by 307
  10. 2022A Survey on Generative Diffusion Modelcited by 238
  11. 2021Gotta Go Fast When Generating Data with Score-Based Modelscited by 218
  12. 2017Learned D-AMP: Principled Neural Network based Compressive Image Recoverycited by 65
  13. 2024Towards Scientific Discovery with Generative AI: Progress, Opportunities, and Challengescited by 41
  14. 2024DiffuserLite: Towards Real-time Diffusion Planningcited by 40
  15. 2024Interactive AI with Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Next Generation Networkingcited by 34
  16. 2024Generative AI Agents with Large Language Model for Satellite Networks via a Mixture of Experts Transmissioncited by 34
  17. 2023Diffusion-based Reinforcement Learning for Edge-enabled AI-Generated Content Servicescited by 33
  18. 2024At the Dawn of Generative AI Era: A Tutorial-cum-Survey on New Frontiers in 6G Wireless Intelligencecited by 25
  19. 2023Generative AI-enabled Vehicular Networks: Fundamentals, Framework, and Case Studycited by 24
  20. 2023AI-Generated Incentive Mechanism and Full-Duplex Semantic Communications for Information Sharingcited by 21
  21. 2024The Social Impact of Generative AI: An Analysis on ChatGPTcited by 18
  22. 2024V2X-R: Cooperative LiDAR-4D Radar Fusion with Denoising Diffusion for 3D Object Detectioncited by 18
  23. 2023Generative AI for Integrated Sensing and Communication: Insights from the Physical Layer Perspectivecited by 17
  24. 2024Towards Dense and Accurate Radar Perception Via Efficient Cross-Modal Diffusion Modelcited by 17
  25. 2024Diffusion-Based Point Cloud Super-Resolution for mmWave Radar Datacited by 17
  26. 2024DNN Partitioning, Task Offloading, and Resource Allocation in Dynamic Vehicular Networks: A Lyapunov-Guided Diffusion-Based Reinforcement Learning Approachcited by 17
  27. 2023A Survey of Diffusion Models in Natural Language Processingcited by 16
  28. 2024Multi-objective Aerial Collaborative Secure Communication Optimization via Generative Diffusion Model-enabled Deep Reinforcement Learningcited by 15
  29. 2025Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Model for Radio Map Estimation in Generative Wireless Networkscited by 14
  30. 2021An Asymptotically MSE-Optimal Estimator based on Gaussian Mixture Modelscited by 13
  31. 2023Integrated Sensing and Communications: Recent Advances and Ten Open Challengescited by 13
  32. 2023Joint channel estimation and data detection in massive MIMO systems based on diffusion modelscited by 13
  33. 2024DiffSG: A Generative Solver for Network Optimization with Diffusion Modelcited by 13
  34. 2024Graph Diffusion Policy Optimizationcited by 12
  35. 2020Deep Transfer Learning for Signal Detection in Ambient Backscatter Communicationscited by 11
  36. 2023YOLO-based Semantic Communication with Generative AI-aided Resource Allocation for Digital Twins Constructioncited by 11
  37. 2024Generative AI-Driven Human Digital Twin in IoT-Healthcare: A Comprehensive Surveycited by 11
  38. 2019Semi-supervised Stacked Label Consistent Autoencoder for Reconstruction and Analysis of Biomedical Signalscited by 9

50 most cited of 109 All 109 (JSON)

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Cited by year (2026 to 7 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2026: 6.

6 papers.

  1. 2026Land-then-transport: A Flow Matching-Based Generative Decoder for Wireless Image Transmissioncited by 2
  2. 2026GD4: Graph-based Discrete Denoising Diffusion for MIMO Detectioncited by 0
  3. 2026From Denoising to Decision Making: A Survey on Diffusion Model-Enabled Deep Reinforcement Learning for Wireless Networkscited by 0
  4. 2026Diffusion Offline Reinforcement Learning for Fair and Energy-Efficient UAV-Assisted Wireless Networkscited by 0
  5. 2026A Perception vs. Distortion Perspective on Score-Based Generative Channel Estimationcited by 0
  6. 2026Diffusion Language Models for Mobile Edge Agentic AI: Foundations, Applications, and Challengescited by 0

Similar, not cited

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  1. 2025Generative Diffusion Models for Wireless Networks: Fundamental, Architecture, and State-of-the-Art
  2. 2024Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) for Mobile Communications: A Diffusion Model Perspective
  3. 2023Deep Generative Model and Its Applications in Efficient Wireless Network Management: A Tutorial and Case Study
  4. 2023Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models for Hardware-Impaired Communications
  5. 2025Improve the Training Efficiency of DRL for Wireless Communication Resource Allocation: The Role of Generative Diffusion Models
  6. 2023Diff-GO: Diffusion Goal-Oriented Communications to Achieve Ultra-High Spectrum Efficiency
  7. 2024Next-Generation Wi-Fi Networks with Generative AI: Design and Insights
  8. 2025Generative AI Meets 6G and Beyond: Diffusion Models for Semantic Communications