Distributed Ledger Technology for Next-Generation Cellular Networks: A SWOT Analysis

Mobile network operators (MNOs) intend to integrate novel technologies into their current and future network solutions to deliver novel, economical, and high-performance services in next-generation networks. However, this will be challenging because these supporting technologies introduce new participants into the ecosystem, increasing network complexity. They also add multiple issues with resource management, security, and privacy, which are existing in the current network. Addressing such difficulties requires a high level of collaboration among cellular network participants, and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) are one potential solution. While DLT-based solutions bring many opportunities, it also brings many inherent weaknesses to the ecosystem. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the systems based on DLT, as well as their possible opportunities and threats for future cellular networks. To do this, in this chapter, we first study and categorize the existing challenges and possible DLT-based solutions in different aspects of the cellular network ecosystem. Then, we perform a SWOT analysis to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats these solutions can bring to the cellular network ecosystem. The result of the SWOT analysis could serve as a guideline for the future use of DLT-based solutions in next-generation cellular networks.