A review on application of blockchain in 5G and beyond networks: taxonomy, field-trials, challenges and opportunities
Until now, every evolution of communication standard was driven by the need for providing high-speed connectivity to the end-user. However, 5G marks a radical shift from this focus as 5G and beyond networks are being designed to be future-proof by catering to diverse requirements of several use c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
2020
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/80957/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/80957/13/80957_A%20review%20on%20application%20of%20blockchain%20in%205G%20and%20beyond%20networks_fulltext.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/80957/7/80957_A%20review%20on%20application%20of%20blockchain%20in%205G%20and%20beyond%20networks_SCOPUS.pdf |
| Summary: | Until now, every evolution of communication standard was driven by the need for providing
high-speed connectivity to the end-user. However, 5G marks a radical shift from this focus as 5G and
beyond networks are being designed to be future-proof by catering to diverse requirements of several use
cases. These requirements include Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications, Massive Machine-Type
Communications and Enhanced Mobile Broadband. To realize such features in 5G and beyond, there is a
need to rethink how current cellular networks are deployed because designing new radio access technologies
and utilizing the new spectrum are not enough. Several technologies, such as software-defined networking,
network function virtualization, machine learning and cloud computing, are being integrated into the 5G
networks to fulfil the need for diverse requirements. These technologies, however, give rise to several
challenges associated with decentralization, transparency, interoperability, privacy and security. To address
these issues, Blockchain has emerged as a potential solution due to its capabilities such as transparency, data
encryption, auditability, immutability and distributed architecture. In this paper, we review the state-of-art
application of Blockchain in 5G network and explore how it can facilitate enabling technologies of 5G and
beyond to enable various services at the front-haul, edge and the core. Based on the review, we present a
taxonomy of Blockchain application in 5G networks and discuss several issues that can be solved using
Blockchain integration. We then present various field-trials and Proof of concept that are using Blockchain
to address the challenges faced in the current 5G deployment. Finally, we discuss various challenges that
need to be addressed to realize the full potential of Blockchain in beyond 5G networks. The survey presents
a broad range of ideas related to Blockchain integration in 5G and beyond networks that address issues
such as interoperability, security, mobility, resource allocation, resource sharing and management, energy
efficiency and other desirable features. |
|---|