UCD NetsLab Launches ORAN Testbed to Advance Security and Privacy in Beyond 5G and 6G Networks
ComReg, under its Test & Trial Ireland programme, has awarded a test licence to researchers at University College Dublin (UCD) NetsLab (https://netslab.ucd.ie/). This licence enables testing next-generation communication networks (5G and beyond) under real-world conditions. Researchers at UCD NetsLab can now deploy and evaluate novel solutions to enhance the privacy and security of future networks. Their work focuses on developing innovative AI and zero-touch solutions to protect both the network and end users from potential security and privacy threats. Additionally, they are exploring traffic steering, dynamic spectrum allocation, and various methods to increase the efficiency and utilisation of Open Radio Access Networks (ORAN).
ComReg’s Test & Trial Ireland programme has enabled UCD NetsLab to trial AI-based network security in live O-RAN settings, moving our research closer to real-world deployment and helping shape the future of secure beyond 5G and 6G networks."
Madhusanka Liyanage, Director of UCD Network Softwarization and Security Labs (NetsLab) and Associate Professor, UCD School of Computer Science
The primary funding for Extending NetsLab testbed towards ORAN has been received via the MBBPT project, which got funded under the FIDAL 5G project. Professor Eleni Mangina is the PI of this project.
“From medical training to industrial automation, the integration of 5G and AI-based solutions has enabled real-time, remote collaborations that were previously unimaginable. In the realm of surgical training, for example, 5G connectivity has allowed us to create more realistic, immersive training environments, ultimately improving outcomes and advancing the entire medical field. The future of technology, powered by 5G, holds immense potential for breakthroughs across diverse sectors, including healthcare, industry, and beyond.”
Professor Eleni Mangina, UCD School of Computer Science
Beyond enhancing the realism of surgical training, MBBPT lays the groundwork for an advanced Group Surgical training platform, specifically focusing on the Bakri balloon placement procedure to develop the necessary dexterity for such a complex surgical task. MBBPT not only sets new benchmarks in surgical training but also extends its impact for the future to diverse sectors, including tele-robotics, industry 4.0, aerospace, and animation. This use case highlights the transformative potential of integrating VR, haptic technology, and 5G connectivity, revolutionizing medical training and expanding its applications across various industries. The trial will be deployed at the School of Medicine, University College of Dublin (UCD), in collaboration with Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at National Maternity Hospital Dublin and Director of the UCD Perinatal Research Centre.
State-of-the-art testbed
The UCD NetsLab 5G ORAN Test Network, located at the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin, hosts a state-of-the-art testbed. This testbed is a central hub for advancing 5G technology research. The network utilises OpenAirInterface (OAI), an open-source, software-defined solution. The deployment infrastructure includes a Core Network 5G (CN5G), an O-RAN Centralized Unit (O-CU), two O-RAN Distributed Units (O-DU), and a Benetel indoor O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU). At the edge, the network features a powerful Dell Precision 7920 server for edge computing. Additionally, the network is equipped with two NI Ettus B200 USRPs.
The testbed comprises various end devices, including a UVify IFO-S drone, two Meta Quest 3 mixed reality VR headsets, two Quectel RM500 5G modems, several 5G dongles, and a range of low-end and high-end IoT devices, such as Raspberry Pi 4 devices and Nvidia Jetson AGX Orin devices. UCD NetsLab is committed to continuously updating the network with state-of-the-art devices to ensure the testbed remains at the forefront of ORAN innovation. Moreover, this test network will be connected with the DenseAir (https://denseair.net/) network.
ComReg is obligated to promote innovation, and the Test & Trial Ireland programme is a key component of this responsibility. The test licence, awarded by ComReg in the 3.8 GHz to 4.2 GHz frequency band, underscores the importance of academic research in developing next-generation networks.
For more information on ComReg’s Test and Trial Programme, please visit (opens in a new window)www.testandtrial.ie.
For more information on the Network Softwarization and Security Labs (NetsLab) please visit (opens in a new window)https://netslab.ucd.ie/
Published 9 September 2024