5G Radio Access Network Management- The Potential of Smart Contract Blockchain

Abstract

There is a growing mobile traffic projected to reach 5016 Exabyte/month by 2030, which explains the rising need for mobile base stations, hence the need for expanding the 5G networks. However, the configuration management of Radio Access Networks (RAN) presents substantial challenges, aggravated by manual processes and multi-stakeholder involvement, which complicates efficient collaboration. This paper advocates for the integration of the smart contract Blockchain technology into network management systems (NMS) to streamline configuration processes, enhance automation, and improve stakeholder transparency and trust. Smart contracts themselves are a code consisting of executed agreements, and therefore NMS can leverage its self-executing features to reduce potential problems while easing network changes along with maintaining immutable transaction records. The system is equipped with some pre-defined concepts and sequences of the events that allow the network elements to change status in accordance with the rules, scenarios, and logic embedded in smart contracts. The framework is aimed at improving effectiveness and efficiency in operating and collaborating within the scope of multiple complex network environments.