Abstract
Future 5G networks are characterized by three basic ideas: enhanced mobile broadband communications, massive machine-type communications, and ultra-low-latency communications. Any of these requirements needs, to be fulfilled, the implementation of high-efficiency technologies at all levels. This includes some of the costliest mechanisms in terms of computational time and bitrate: information protection solutions. Typical techniques in this area employ complex algorithms and large protocol headers, which strongly reduces the effective baud rate and latency of future 5G networks and communications. This is especially relevant in the access network, which in 5G networks will follow a cloud-based architecture, where thousands of different devices must communicate, before aggregating all those streams to be sent to the backbone. Then, new and more efficient mechanisms are needed in the cloud radio access networks (C-RAN) for future 5G systems. Therefore, in this paper it is proposed a novel information protection scheme for C-RAN architectures based on resonant phenomena in optical fibers communicating the fronthaul and backhaul in 5G networks. Resonant structures and physical nonlinearities generate a chaotic signal which may encrypt and hide at physical level every communication stream in a very efficient manner. To evaluate the proposed mechanism, an experimental validation based on simulation techniques is also described and results discussed.
Highlights
Many different architectures and paradigms have been proposed as an optimal solution for implementing future 5G networks [1]
In this paper it is proposed a novel information protection scheme for cloud radio access networks (C-RAN) architectures based on resonant phenomena in optical fibers communicating the fronthaul and backhaul in 5G
To provide secure communications in C-RAN architectures we are using a cryptographic solution at physical level, taking advantage of unclonable and non-linear behaviors and effects of optical fiber wires connecting the fronthaul and the backhaul
Summary
Many different architectures and paradigms have been proposed as an optimal solution for implementing future 5G networks [1]. C-RAN infrastructures are, in general words, composed of a fronthaul network (made of proximity radio access points), and a backhaul network, where full capacity base stations are included Both networks are communicated through high performance optical links. To provide secure communications in C-RAN architectures we are using a cryptographic solution at physical level, taking advantage of unclonable and non-linear behaviors and effects of optical fiber wires connecting the fronthaul and the backhaul. Chaotic schemes may be vulnerable when supported by traditional processing nodes, but chaotic signals generated in optical rings are unclonable, so nobody can replicate their behavior even if they know their design and how the proposed technology operates As this novel solution works at physical level, delays and bitrate are almost non affected, meeting the requirements of 5G networks.
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