Researchers in Scotland Promise Self Healing 5G Mobile Networks

Future 5G based Mobile Broadband networks are expected to be extremely fast (peak speeds of up to 10Gbps), but new EU supported research taking place at the University of West of Scotland (UWS) could also make them “self-healing” to boost performance, protect against DDoS attacks and recover faster from outages.

At least that’s what the SELFNET project, which is one of the first phase projects of the European Commission’s 5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership (5G-PPP), aims to deliver by June 2018.

Apparently the aim is to deliver advanced automation of complex network management operations, such as self-protection capabilities against distributed cyber-attacks, self-healing capabilities against network failures, and self-optimization to dynamically improve the performance of the network.

The cost-efficiency of infrastructure maintenance would also be improved and the quality of experience of mobile users across Europe and globally should gain a boost.

Dr Alcaraz-Calero, SELFNET Leader, said:

“Put simply, SELFNET will allow 5G networks to make possible things that would have been considered science fiction just a few years ago.

Unprecedented reliability and stability will transform the way we think about mobile networks. For example, the ‘self-healing’ part of the network will ensure stable connectivity even when on the move – making driverless cars a realistic mainstream possibility.

Improved bandwidth and reliability means digital-health, including mobile surgery, becomes viable, potentially dramatically improving the delivery of healthcare to remote areas.”

All of this sounds wonderful, but of course it won’t completely overcome any inherent physical infrastructure failings, such as those caused by a fundamental lack of local network capacity or the absence of a viable mobile signal in remote rural areas.

Now all we need is for everybody to agree a final 5G standard and then stick to it, although the history of fragmented mobile technology standards and recent developments (example) suggest that delivering on the promise may be easier said than done.

Pioneering mobile operators rarely wait for world regulators and standards bodies to get their act together before introducing a new service.