EEEM018: ADVANCED MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS MSc Module
ASSIGNMENT: EEEM018, Academic Year 2022 - 2023
One piece of coursework, worth 20% of final module mark
Assigned in Week 5: 10th March 2023
Due in Week 9: 25th April 2023 (Tuesday) - 4 pm, electronic copy submission on Surrey Learn into the
Assignment Folder:
[Link]
Please save the assignment as a single PDF file in the following format: [Link].
Please do not include your name anywhere in the assignment as the assignment will be marked blind.
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: 5G network security: Can it work for new services such as
smart homes, smart cities, transport and eHealth
The development of the Fifth Generation (5G) mobile networks is moving speedily to connect almost
all aspects of life through the network with much higher speed, very low latency and ubiquitous
connectivity. Due to its crucial role in our lives, the network must secure its entities, services and
users.
Outline the 5G network threat landscape for the new applications (smart homes, smart cities, smart
transport and eHealth), where some of these services are time critical and will be implemented in
large scale (millions or billions of devices). Present your thoughts on how 5G security can resolve
these threats.
Also explain the 5G system security solution, contrasting it with the older generations of mobile
networks security. Illustrate the use of Internet security (IPsec) in 5G core and connecting 5G devices
through non-3GPP interfaces (such as WiFi).
Hints
Your essay should examine the 3GPP standards on security architecture and key management. It
should also exam the security threats and opportunities of the new 5G enabling technologies such as
Software Defined Radio (SDN), Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) and Multi-access Edge
Computing (MEC).
Search the ETSI and 3GPP related websites for standards specifications and reports. Also find the
relevant conference/journal papers on 5G security.
Main Objectives
To learn beyond a simple overview of 3GPP security architecture and to demonstrate your ability to
collect and select technical material; to organise technical material in a concise fashion; to write a
technical document which provides useful information (straight to the point); to develop critical
ability.
Recommendations
Essay length about 3500 words (±5% excluding figures, figure captions, tables and references).
Formatting: Your report should be written in Times New Roman font, size 11. Your paragraphs
should be justified. Leave a blank line between paragraphs. All margins should be set to 2.5cm.
A set of references should be put at the end of the essay. In the case of articles that have been
published in a journal or conference, the authors, article title, journal / conference name and date must
at a minimum be given. It is NOT acceptable to simply quote a web URL in these cases (since
journals and conference proceedings are archived and accessible to all, whereas material on a web site
can easily be removed by the site owner).
Marking
Your answer will be judged along the following criteria:
1. Discussion of the security attacks and threat landscape to 5G networks and its applications such as
IoT. This is worth 20% of the assignment.
2. Presentation of the 3GPP standards on security architecture and key management. State your
opinion on proposed solutions. This is worth 30% of the assignment.
3. Security research analysis of new 5G enabling technologies such as Software Defined Networks
(SDN), Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) and Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC). State
your opinion on these technologies in terms of new threats and new security solutions. This is
worth 30% of the assignment.
4. The overall presentation of the report, labelled figures, tables and correct and consistent use of
references. (20%)
Suggestions
Collect your material as soon as possible. You will need time to digest the information; select the
most relevant protocols; organise the material and structure the essay. Avoid going off-topic.
Some references, to start with, are added to Surrey Learn with this assignment
description.