BE-RAN: Blockchain-enabled Open RAN for 6G with DID and Privacy-Preserving Communication
This addresses security and efficiency challenges for 6G network operators and users, though it appears incremental by building on existing blockchain and decentralized identity concepts.
The paper tackles the need for robust authentication in distributed 6G Radio Access Networks by proposing BE-RAN, a decentralized architecture using blockchain, which reduces communication and computation overheads and enhances privacy through decentralized identity management.
As 6G networks evolve towards a synergistic system of Communication, Sensing, and Computing, Radio Access Networks become more distributed, necessitating robust end-to-end authentication. We propose Blockchain-enabled Radio Access Networks, a novel decentralized RAN architecture enhancing security, privacy, and efficiency in authentication processes. BE-RAN leverages distributed ledger technology to establish trust, offering user-centric identity management, enabling mutual authentication, and facilitating on-demand point-to-point inter-network elements and UE-UE communication with accountable logging and billing service add-on for public network users, all without relying on centralized authorities. We envision a thoroughly decentralized RAN model and propose a privacy-preserving P2P communication approach that complements existing security measures while supporting the CSC paradigm. Results demonstrate BE-RAN significantly reduces communication and computation overheads, enhances privacy through decentralized identity management, and facilitates CSC integration, advancing towards more efficient and secure 6G networks.