Security analysis of mobile edge computing in virtualized small cell networks

Based upon the context of Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) actual research and within the innovative scope of the SESAME EU-funded research project, we propose and assess a framework for security analysis applied in virtualised Small Cell Networks, with the aim of further extending MEC in the broader 5G environment. More specifically, by applying the fundamental concepts of the SESAME original architecture that aims at providing enhanced multi-tenant MEC services through Small Cells coordination and virtualization, we focus on a realistic 5G-oriented scenario enabling the provision of large multi-tenant enterprise services by using MEC. Then we evaluate several security issues by using a formal methodology, known as the Secure Tropos

View on 5G Architecture: Version 1.0

The current white paper focuses on the produced results after one year research mainly from 16 projects working on the abovementioned domains. During several months, representatives from these projects have worked together to identify the key findings of their projects and capture the commonalities and also the different approaches and trends. Also they have worked to determine the challenges that remain to be overcome so as to meet the 5G requirements. The goal of 5G Architecture Working Group is to use the results captured in this white paper to assist the participating projects achieve a common reference framework. The work of this working group will continue during the following year so as to capture the latest results to be produced by the projects and further elaborate this reference framework. The 5G networks will be built around people and things and will natively meet the requirements of three groups of use cases: • Massive broadband (xMBB) that delivers gigabytes of bandwidth on demand • Massive machine-type communication (mMTC) that connects billions of sensors and machines • Critical machine-type communication (uMTC) that allows immediate feedback with high reliability and enables for example remote control over robots and autonomous driving. The demand for mobile broadband will continue to increase in the next years, largely driven by the need to deliver ultra-high definition video. However, 5G networks will also be the platform enabling growth in many industries, ranging from the IT industry to the automotive, manufacturing industries entertainment, etc. 5G will enable new applications like for example autonomous driving, remote control of robots and tactile applications, but these also bring a lot of challenges to the network. Some of these are related to provide low latency in the order of few milliseconds and high reliability compared to fixed lines. But the biggest challenge for 5G networks will be that the services to cater for a diverse set of services and their requirements. To achieve this, the goal for 5G networks will be to improve the flexibility in the architecture. The white paper is organized as follows. In section 2 we discuss the key business and technical requirements that drive the evolution of 4G networks into the 5G. In section 3 we provide the key points of the overall 5G architecture where as in section 4 we elaborate on the functional architecture. Different issues related to the physical deployment in the access, metro and core networks of the 5G network are discussed in section 5 while in section 6 we present software network enablers that are expected to play a significant role in the future networks. Section 7 presents potential impacts on standardization and section 8 concludes the white paper

View on 5G Architecture: Version 2.0

The 5G Architecture Working Group as part of the 5GPPP Initiative is looking at capturing novel trends and key technological enablers for the realization of the 5G architecture. It also targets at presenting in a harmonized way the architectural concepts developed in various projects and initiatives (not limited to 5GPPP projects only) so as to provide a consolidated view on the technical directions for the architecture design in the 5G era. The first version of the white paper was released in July 2016, which captured novel trends and key technological enablers for the realization of the 5G architecture vision along with harmonized architectural concepts from 5GPPP Phase 1 projects and initiatives. Capitalizing on the architectural vision and framework set by the first version of the white paper, this Version 2.0 of the white paper presents the latest findings and analyses with a particular focus on the concept evaluations, and accordingly it presents the consolidated overall architecture design

White Paper for Research Beyond 5G

The documents considers both research in the scope of evolutions of the 5G systems (for the period around 2025) and some alternative/longer term views (with later outcomes, or leading to substantial different design choices). This document reflects on four main system areas: fundamental theory and technology, radio and spectrum management; system design; and alternative concepts. The result of this exercise can be broken in two different strands: one focused in the evolution of technologies that are already ongoing development for 5G systems, but that will remain research areas in the future (with “more challenging” requirements and specifications); the other, highlighting technologies that are not really considered for deployment today, or that will be essential for addressing problems that are currently non-existing, but will become apparent when 5G systems begin their widespread deployment

Contributing to the pathway towards 5G experimentation with an SDN-controlled network box

Καθώς η απαίτηση σε ευρυζωνικές υπηρεσίες κινητών επικοινωνιών αυξάνεται ραγδαία, τα υπάρχοντα δίκτυα κινητών επικοινωνιών πλησιάζουν τα όριά τους κάνοντας επιτακτική την ανάγκη εξέλιξής τους η οποία θα επέλθει με την τεχνολογική άφιξη της επόμενης γενιάς κινητών επικοινωνιών, ευρέως γνωστής ως 5G. Το 5G μεταφέρει όλες εκείνες τις δυνατότητες οι οποίες είναι απαραίτητες για να καλυφθούν οι συνεχώς αυξανόμενες ανάγκες σε ευρυζωνικές υπηρεσίες, να υποστηρίξουν το Internet of Things καθώς και να ενοποιήσουν ετερογενείς υπηρεσίες σε διαφορετικές βιομηχανίες. Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία στοχεύει να παρουσιάσει το “Network in a box”, ένα καινοτόμο εργαλείο που αναπτύξαμε στο εργαστήριο, το οποίο βασίζεται επάνω στους θεμέλιους λίθους του 5G, το SDN και το NFV. Με το SDN να είναι η νέα προσέγγιση στα δίκτυα κινητών επικοινωνιών, ο έλεγχος διαχωρίζεται από τα δεδομένα παρέχοντας τη δυνατότητα οποιεσδήποτε αποφάσεις ελέγχου, να λαμβάνονται κεντρικά, μετατρέποντας έτσι τις κλασικές δικτυακές συσκευές σε απλά προωθητικά στοιχεία του δικτύου. Η συγκεκριμένη διάταξη μιμείται ένα πραγματικό δίκτυο, το οποίο διαθέτει δυνατότητες αυτο-οργάνωσης και αυτο-βελτίωσης, προσομοιώνοντας τη λειτουργία του 5G δικτύου. Το συγκεκριμένο εργαλείο είναι επίσης ικανό να παράσχει KPI μετρικές του 5G δικτύου κάτω από πραγματικές συνθήκες ενόσω αληθινές δικτυακές συσκευές είναι συνδεδεμένες σε αυτό. Η δομή της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας αναλύεται σε πέντε κεφάλαια. Το πρώτο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζει τις προκλήσεις που σύντομα θα κληθούν να αντιμετωπίσουν τα δίκτυα κινητών επικοινωνιών και πώς αυτές μπορούν να καλυφθούν με την τεχνολογία του 5G. Το δεύτερο κεφάλαιο εισάγει την τάση στην αγορά των κινητών επικοινωνιών που διαφένεται πίσω από την επερχόμενη άφιξη του 5G, αποκαλύπτοντας το επιχειρηματικό πλαίσιο για επιχειρήσεις, καταναλωτές και συνεργασίες όπως επίσης και κάποιες περιπτώσεις χρήσης που αντικατοπτρίζουν την διαρκή εξέλιξη στις ευρυζωνικές υπηρεσίες κινητών επικοινωνιών. Το τρίτο κεφάλαιο εμπεριέχει μια μικρή επισκόπηση των τρέχοντων έργων πάνω στο 5G, τα οποία ξεκίνησαν υπό την αιγίδα της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής με τη συνεργασία προμηθευτών τεχνολογίας επικοινωνιών, παρόχων υπηρεσιών, μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων και πανεπιστημίων. Γίνεται επίσης αναφορά στις βασικές τεχνολογίες του 5G και στις δραστηριότητες προτυποποίησής του. Προχωρώντας στο τέταρτο κεφάλαιο, περιγράφουμε σε βάθος την αρχιτεκτονική του 5G δικτύου, αναλύοντας τα SDN, NFV, MANO και εξετάζουμε πώς αυτά συνεισφέρουν στη βιωσιμότητα του δικτύου. Τέλος, στο πέμπτο κεφάλαιο εισάγουμε μια καινοτόμο ιδέα που αναπτύξαμε στο εργαστήριο δικτύων του πανεπιστημίου μας, ένα πλήρως αυτόνομο δικτυακό εργαλείο, το “Network in a box”. Παρουσιάζουμε σε βάθος πώς αυτός ο server μπορεί να εγκατασταθεί και να λειτουργήσει καθώς και τις δυνατότητές του κάτω από πραγματικές συνθήκες λειτουργίας του δικτύου, ενώ λαμβάνουν χώρα υποβάθμιση ποιότητας ή μη-διαθεσιμότητα στις δικτυακές ζεύξεις, παρέχοντας επίσης μετρικές από τη λειτουργία του δικτύου σε πραγματικό χρόνο.As the demand in mobile broadband is tremendously increased and the heterogeneity of the services to be covered is growing rapidly, current mobile networks are close to their limits imposing the need of an evolution which is going to be introduced by the next generation technology, the ITU IMT-2020, well known as 5G. 5G brings all those capabilities required to cover the increased mobile broadband needs, support the Internet of Things and bind heterogeneous services in different industries. This diploma thesis aims at presenting the “Network in a box”, an innovative tool we developed which is based on the key 5G principles, SDN and NFV. With Software Defined Networking (SDN) being the new approach in mobile networks, control and data plane are decoupled providing the ability to make any control related decisions centrally and transform legacy network devices to simple forwarding elements. This testbed is a portable emulated network device which is self-managed and self-optimised and can be connected between any real network devices, emulating how the 5G network will perform. This plug & play black-box testbed is also capable of providing KPI metrics of the 5G network under real circumstances when real network devices are connected to it. The structure of this diploma thesis is decomposed in five chapters. Chapter 1 presents the challenges mobile networks will shortly face due to the growing heterogeneous demands in communications towards the year 2020 and beyond and how these can be met with the upcoming 5G technology. Chapter 2 introduces the market trend behind the new era of 5G, revealing the business context for enterprises, consumers, verticals and partnerships as well as some use cases which reflect the continuous mobile broadband evolution. Chapter 3 includes a short overview of the ongoing 5G projects, initiated under the umbrella of the European Commission, with the collaboration of communications technology vendors, telecommunications operators, service providers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and universities. There is also a reference in 5G key enabling technologies and standardisation activities as we move towards the next generation mobile networks technology. Moving forward, chapter 4 describes in detail the technological components of 5G network architecture such as SDN, NFV, MANO and examines how these 5G key enabling technologies contribute to the overall networks’ sustainability. Finally, in chapter 5 we introduce an innovative idea developed in our university’s communications network research laboratory, an autonomous emulated portable network testbed, the “Network in a box”. We present in-depth how this portable server is deployed, operates and demonstrate the way it can be connected to real network elements emulating a real 5G end-to-end customer network. Moreover, in this last chapter we present “Network in a box” capabilities under real network circumstances when link degradations or failures take place, providing also real-time network metrics

SDN-based Flexible Resource Management and Service-Oriented Virtualization for 5G Mobile Networks and Beyond

This thesis examines how Software Defined Network (SDN) and Network Virtualization (NV) technologies can make 5G and beyond mobile networks more flexible, scalable and programmable to support the performance demands of the emerging heterogeneous applications. In this direction, concepts like mobile network slicing, multi-tenancy, and multi-connectivity have been investigated and their performance is analyzed. The SDN paradigm is used to enable flexible resource allocation to the end users, improve network resource utilization and avoid or rapidly solve the network congestion problems. The proposed network architectures are 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards compliant and integrate Open Network Foundation (ONF) SDN specifications to ensure seamless interoperability between different standards and backward/forward compatibility. Novel mechanisms and algorithms to efficiently manage the resources of evolving 5G Time-Division Duplex (TDD) networks in a flexible manner are introduced. These mechanisms enable formation of virtual cells on-demand which allows diverse resource utilization from multiple eNBs to the users. Within the scope of this thesis, SDN-based frameworks to enhance the QoE of end user applications considering Time Division-Long Term Evolution (TD-LTE) small cells have also been developed and network resource sharing scenarios with Frequency-Division Duplex (FDD)/TDD coexistence has been studied. In addition, this thesis also proposes and investigates a novel service-oriented network slicing concept for evolving 5G TDD networks which involve traffic prediction mechanisms and includes user mobility. An analytical model is also introduced that formulates the network slice resource allocation as a weighted optimization problem. The evaluations of the proposed solutions are performed using 3GPP standard compliant simulation settings. The proposed solutions have been compared with the state-of-the art schemes and the performance gains offered by the proposed solutions have been demonstrated. Performance is evaluated considering metrics such as throughput, delay, network resource utilization etc. The Mean Opinion Score (MOS) metric is used for evaluating the Quality of Experience (QoE) for end-user applications. With the help of SDN-based network management algorithms investigated in this work, it is shown how 5G+ networks can be managed efficiently, while at the same time provide enhanced flexibility and programmability to improve the performance of diverse applications and services delivered over the network to the end users

Techno‐economic analysis of 5G immersive media services in cloud‐enabled small cell networks: the neutral host business model

Fifth generation (5G) envisages a “hyperconnected society” with an enormous number of interconnected devices, anywhere and at any time. Edge computing plays a pivotal role in this vision, enabling low latency, large traffic volumes, and improved quality of experience. The advent of 5G and edge computing encourages vertical industries to develop innovative services, which can meet the challenging demands coming from consumers. However, economic feasibility is the ultimate factor that determines the viability of a new service. Hence, effective techniques for the economic assessment of such services are needed. This paper analyzes the provision of immersive media services in crowded events, through a cloud‐enabled small cell network owned by a neutral host, and offered in multitenancy to different mobile network operators. We initially develop a planning model to predict the required compute, storage, and radio resources. Taking into account dynamic factors such as service penetration and price evolution, we then provide a number of economic indices, such as net present value, internal rate of return, and expected payback period to assess the viability of a potential investment in a 5G infrastructure for immersive media services. The presented analysis will guide small cell network operators in the provision of 5G innovative media services

Developments of 5G Technology

This technology is the future of current LTE technology which would be a boost to the future of wireless and computer networks, as the speeds would be way higher than the current LTE networks, which will push the technology to a new level. This technology will make the radio channels to support data access speeds up to 10 Gb/s which will turn the bandwidth radio channels as WiFi. Comparing it with other LTE technology\u27s it has high speed and capacity, support interactive multimedia, voice, internet and its data rate is 1 Gbps which makes it faster than other LTE’s . This is much more effective than other technology’s due to its advanced billing interfaces. This paper provides detail explanation of 5G technology, its architecture, challenges, advantages and disadvantages, issues and ends with future of 5G technology