Distributed Network Slicing Management Using Blockchains in E-Health Environments

Abstract

The new 5G networks must face the challenge to fulfill multiple requirements in different use cases, applications and verticals. These networks are designed to provide strict Quality of Service (QoS) compliance independently of the network conditions in each use case. Some use cases are deployed in Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), infrastructures that are managed by mobile network operators. However, for other use cases, devices are connected to services in private networks named Non-Public Networks (NPNs). Network slicing is the 5G concept that addresses the compliance of multiple services requirements on the same network by virtualizing the physical network infrastructure. Network Slices (NSs) are created to manage the different requirements above and to ensure coexistence between these different requirements. In this work, we avail from network slicing concept to create a solution for NPNs in e-health environments which maintains QoS and privacy requirements among slices. Moreover, we also propose a blockchain mechanism to secure the NS management layer. This mechanism ensures data integrity and reliability for the NSs settings. We validate our approach by demonstrating our comprehensive solution to secure e-health environments sensitive data and the management of the slices by the e-health environments. We deployed a Proof of Concept (PoC) using the 5G EmPOWER system and a public blockchain and we evaluate some performance metrics in different scenarios.