Hierarchical Blockchain Radio Access Networks: Architecture, Modelling, and Performance Assessment

TL;DR

This paper proposes a blockchain-based architecture for next-generation radio access networks that enhances security and coverage, supported by a theoretical Markov chain model to evaluate latency and attack resilience.

Contribution

It introduces a novel blockchain-enabled RAN architecture with a theoretical model for performance and security analysis, including scalability insights.

Findings

The architecture improves security and coverage in RANs.

The Markov chain model quantifies latency and attack probability.

Scalability of blockchain-RAN is demonstrated across scenarios.

Abstract

Demands for secure, ubiquitous, and always-available connectivity have been identified as the pillar design parameters of the next generation radio access networks (RANs). Motivated by this, the current contribution introduces a network architecture that leverages blockchain technologies to augment security in RANs, while enabling dynamic coverage expansion through the use of intermediate commercial or private wireless nodes. To assess the efficiency and limitations of the architecture, we employ Markov chain theory in order to extract a theoretical model with increased engineering insights. Building upon this model, we quantify the latency as well as the security capabilities in terms of probability of successful attack, for three scenarios, namely fixed topology fronthaul network, advanced coverage expansion and advanced mobile node connectivity, which reveal the scalability of the blockchain-RAN architecture.