Introducing mobile edge computing capabilities through distributed 5G Cloud Enabled Small Cells

Current trends in broadband mobile networks are addressed towards the placement of different capabilities at the edge of the mobile network in a centralised way. On one hand, the split of the eNB between baseband processing units and remote radio headers makes it possible to process some of the protocols in centralised premises, likely with virtualised resources. On the other hand, mobile edge computing makes use of processing and storage capabilities close to the air interface in order to deploy optimised services with minimum delay. The confluence of both trends is a hot topic in the definition of future 5G networks. The full centralisation of both technologies in cloud data centres imposes stringent requirements to the fronthaul connections in terms of throughput and latency. Therefore, all those cells with limited network access would not be able to offer these types of services. This paper proposes a solution for these cases, based on the placement of processing and storage capabilities close to the remote units, which is especially well suited for the deployment of clusters of small cells. The proposed cloud-enabled small cells include a highly efficient microserver with a limited set of virtualised resources offered to the cluster of small cells. As a result, a light data centre is created and commonly used for deploying centralised eNB and mobile edge computing functionalities. The paper covers the proposed architecture, with special focus on the integration of both aspects, and possible scenarios of application.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

The Challenge of Security Breaches in the Era of 5G Networking

Part 1: 6th Workshop on “5G – Putting Intelligence to the Network Edge” (5G-PINE 2021)International audienceCommunications play a fundamental role in the economic and social well-being of the citizens and on operations of most of the Critical Infrastructures (CIs). 5G networks and future communications technologies radically transform the way we communicate, by introducing a vast array of new connections, capabilities and services in a multiplicity of sectors. In this scope, network function virtualization and end-to-end network slicing are two promising technologies empowering 5G networks for efficient and dynamic network/service deployment and management. Resilience of critical infrastructure systems and especially in telecommunication networks can be considered as “key factor” that can reduce vulnerability, minimize the consequences of threats as well as their cascade effects, accelerate mitigation and facilitate re-adaptation to a disruptive event. In this context, comprehensive knowledge of the complete surrounding environment and of the most important factors that affect and/or determine resilience, can evolve at a fundamental aspect concerning the case resilience of critical telecommunication. Based on this idea, the RESISTO project provides a holistic situation awareness for telecommunication infrastructures and simultaneously enhances resilience, while acting as an on top safety net boosting the faster and more reliable management enabling the digital transformation of our society and a variety of business processes. In this paper we specifically discuss the impact of the RESISTO platform when a security breach occurs in a 5G mobile network

Considerations for IP Interconnection of Power Grid Components

The foreseen capabilities of 5G, such as reliable and robust handling of data management can be commonly utilized by different sectors. The Electricity sector has remained for many years a stable industry using the same operational and maintenance regimes and dependable infrastructure. The need to integrate communication network domains in the Smart Grids context with 5G is considered as the next generation regarding power grids, and it is bidirectional as far as electricity and information is concerned, aiming to create a widely distributed automated energy delivery network (as in [1]). In this paper, a Communication-as-a-Service scenario is presented as a proposal of a telecom operator in order to “address” scalability, security and interoperability that a Smart grid network requires, by using communication solutions provided by 5G

Considerations for IP Interconnection of Power Grid Components

The foreseen capabilities of 5G, such as reliable and robust handling of data management can be commonly utilized by different sectors. The Electricity sector has remained for many years a stable industry using the same operational and maintenance regimes and dependable infrastructure. The need to integrate communication network domains in the Smart Grids context with 5G is considered as the next generation regarding power grids, and it is bidirectional as far as electricity and information is concerned, aiming to create a widely distributed automated energy delivery network (as in [1]). In this paper, a Communication-as-a-Service scenario is presented as a proposal of a telecom operator in order to “address” scalability, security and interoperability that a Smart grid network requires, by using communication solutions provided by 5G

e-Health Services in the Context of IoT: The Case of the VICINITY Project

Part 2: 5G-PINEInternational audienceThe Internet of Things (IoT) is a new paradigm that combines aspects and technologies coming from different approaches. Ageing population and decreasing financial resources, consist one of the biggest challenges not only in Europe but also worldwide, in terms of healthcare organization complexity. At the same time, there exists an ever-growing demand for ubiquitous healthcare systems to improve human health and well-being. IoT paradigm and wearable IoT devices for home-based or mobile monitoring of vital patients’ data can be a secure, reliable and cost-savvy solution to this problem. This paper analyzes the impact of Internet of Things on the design of new eHealth services and solutions in the Context of VICINITY EU-funded project

A new security approach in telecom infrastructures: The RESISTO concept

Communications play a fundamental role in the economic and social well-being of the citizens and on operations of most of the critical infrastructures (CIs).Extreme weather events, natural disasters and criminal attacks represent a challenge due to their increase in frequency and intensity requiring smarter resilience of the Communication CIs, which are extremely vulnerable due to the ever-increasing complexity of the architecture also in light of the evolution towards 5G, the extensive use of programmable platforms and exponential growth of connected devices. In this paper, we present the aim of RESISTO H2020 EU-funded project, which constitutes an innovative solution for Communication Cis holistic situation awareness and enhanced resilience

A Novel Architectural Concept for Enhanced 5G Network Facilities

The 5G ESSENCE project’s context is based on the concept of Edge Cloud Computing and Small Cell-as-a-Service (SCaaS) -as both have been previously identified in the SESAME 5G-PPP project of phase 1- and further “promotes” their role and/or influences within the related 5G vertical markets. 5G ESSENCE’s core innovation is focused upon the development/provision of a highly flexible and scalable platform, offering benefits to the involved market actors. The present work identifies a variety of challenges to be fulfilled by the 5G ESSENCE, in the scope of an enhanced architectural framework. The proposed technical approach exploits the profits of the centralization of Small Cell functions as scale grows through an edge cloud environment, based on a two-tier architecture with the first distributed tier being for offering low latency services and the second centralized tier being for the provision of high processing power for computing-intensive network applications. This permits decoupling the control and user planes of the Radio Access Network (RAN) and achieving the advantages of Cloud-RAN without the enormous fronthaul latency restrictions. The use of end-to-end network slicing mechanisms allows for sharing the related infrastructure among multiple operators/vertical industries and customizing its capabilities on a per-tenant basis, creating a neutral host market and reducing operational costs

A Novel Architectural Concept for Enhanced 5G Network Facilities

The 5G ESSENCE project’s context is based on the concept of Edge Cloud Computing and Small Cell-as-a-Service (SCaaS) -as both have been previously identified in the SESAME 5G-PPP project of phase 1- and further “promotes” their role and/or influences within the related 5G vertical markets. 5G ESSENCE’s core innovation is focused upon the development/provision of a highly flexible and scalable platform, offering benefits to the involved market actors. The present work identifies a variety of challenges to be fulfilled by the 5G ESSENCE, in the scope of an enhanced architectural framework. The proposed technical approach exploits the profits of the centralization of Small Cell functions as scale grows through an edge cloud environment, based on a two-tier architecture with the first distributed tier being for offering low latency services and the second centralized tier being for the provision of high processing power for computing-intensive network applications. This permits decoupling the control and user planes of the Radio Access Network (RAN) and achieving the advantages of Cloud-RAN without the enormous fronthaul latency restrictions. The use of end-to-end network slicing mechanisms allows for sharing the related infrastructure among multiple operators/vertical industries and customizing its capabilities on a per-tenant basis, creating a neutral host market and reducing operational costs

A Model for an Innovative 5G-Oriented Architecture, Based on Small Cells Coordination for Multi-tenancy and Edge Services

Part 12: 5G – Putting Intelligence to the Network Edge (5G-PINE)International audienceThe “core” aim of the SESAME EU-funded research project is to design and develop a novel 5G platform based on the use of Small Cells, featuring multi-tenancy between network operators and also attach to them edge cloud capabilities to be offered to both the network operators and the mobile users. SESAME aims at providing a fresh 5G mobile network architecture so as to support the ambitious goal of small cell virtualization, multitenancy and edge cloud services. In the present work we assess the fundamental SESAME components and their role in the respective systems, while analysing the initial framework of the essential relevant architecture to implement the critical targets of the respective approach. Finally we identify future potential extensions