Secure Architecture Framework for 5G and Wifi6 coexistant networks

Phase-I provided significant insights on the evolution of co-existing wireless technologies (e.g., 5G, WiFi 6/6E), their architecture, features and interworking capabilities. The research results helped develop a detailed view of wireless heterogeneous networks (HetNets) and identify strengths, limitations and challenges in key areas such as interoperability, routing, security, Quality of Service (QoS), and supporting services that need to be addressed as these technologies are adopted in private and public infrastructures (e.g., enterprise, carrier). Furthermore, Phase-I produced a technology agnostic HetNet architecture design to help orchestrate seamless network access and policy driven mobility management capability for Federal use cases. The proposed design helps alleviate the complexity and challenges of accessing co-existent networks using a modular architecture composed of a User Equipment (UE) client app and a set of manager functions (MFs) residing within the Federal domain to provide policy rules and enforcement to meet Federal agency policy. Phase II is focused on prototyping the HetNet client and MFs on a network testbed and exercising the design with call and data flows supporting different Federal user use cases. This will enable detailed analysis of the design, key criteria such as performance, effectiveness, security, and QoS and further address HetNet solution’s data management and policy management aspects as they pertain to Federal use cases. The work will also identify viable paths towards commercialization of the design by working with partners and potentially integrating the HetNet features into their commercial product platforms.