Abstract: The fifth generation (5G) wireless networks technologies support diverse vertical applications by connecting heterogeneous devices and machines, promising drastic improvements in terms of low latency, increased network capacity and enhanced system throughput. Despite all these advantages that 5G will bring about, there are still major challenges to be addressed, including decentralization, transparency, risks of data interoperability, network privacy and security vulnerabilities. On paper, Distributed Ledger Technologies provide a framework to effectively handle most challenges in 5G networks. The talk outlines recent developments in blockchain-based 5G services, focusing on the potential of blockchain for key 5G technologies, including edge computing, Network Function Virtualization, Network Slicing, and M2M communications and for 5G services, including from spectrum management, virtualization, and resource management. Then, it considers the properties that DLT can support in terms of trust, privacy and security, identifying and possible 0research challenges with open issues.

Speaker’s Bio: Ernesto Damiani is a Full Professor at Università degli Studi di Milano (Italy), Senior Director of the Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute, and Director of Center for Cyber Physical Systems (C2PS) within Khalifa University (UAE). He is the leader of the Big Data area at Etisalat British Telecom Innovation Center (EBTIC), and President of the Consortium of Italian Computer Science Universities (CINI). He is also part of the ENISA Ad-Hoc Working Group on Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity. Ernesto's areas of interest include cyber-physical systems, Big Data Analytics, Edge/Cloud security and performance, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. Ernesto Damiani has pioneered model-driven data analytics. He has authored more than 660 Scopus-indexed publications and several patents. Ernesto has been a recipient of the Research and Innovation Award from the IEEE Technical Committee on Homeland Security , of the Stephen Yau Award from the Service Society, of the Outstanding contributions Award from IFIP TC2, of the Chester-Sall Award from IEEE IES, of the IEEE TCHS Research and Innovation Award, and of a doctorate honoris causa from INSA – Lyon (France) for his contribution to Big Data teaching and research.