The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) backed consortium, which also comprises wavemobile, Cisco, Ori and the University of Warwick, has been set up to trial a “new way of connecting networks together which is relatively low cost, secure and scalable and ensure private networks becoming more available for customers”.
The first trials were completed at the wavemobile 5G test lab and, according to VM02, helped establish an end-to-end test system using an SEPP (Security Edge Protection Proxy) roaming interface to connect a public & private 5G network to create a ‘network of networks’.
5G DRIVE has stated its ultimate ambition is to provide a path for tier 2 RAN vendors to enter the market with their products and solutions in support of the government’s diversification agenda. A key element of this is helping private networks integrate into Mobile Network Operators (MNO’s) networks via the new SEPP end-to-end encrypted application interface (N32 c/f) roaming interface architecture with carrier grade security.
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Dr David Owens, head of technical trials at VMO2 and the 5G DRIVE project lead, said: “This is a significant first step in our mission to create new solutions that provide vendor agnostic integration capability, driving forward the secure connectivity for private networks, and helping to deliver on the promise of 5G “network of networks”. The ambition of the 5G DRIVE project is that it will provide a scalable solution, that doesn’t impact public networks and will deliver carrier grade security, something we are all incredibly excited about.”
Dr Owens added that the next phase of the programme will see further trials to establish and test an Ori containerised core network, a Cisco cloud core as a service network, and further investigations into scaling aspects of private & public 5G roaming. The trials will culminate with several simulated corporate customers using a 5G private networks deployed using multiple access edge computing.
Mahdi Yahya, chief executive officer at Ori Industries said: “The status quo in how we build and operate networks is rapidly changing. The continued deployment of 5G in the enterprise space at reduced costs and faster speeds enables modern organisations to become end-to-end service providers. We are pleased to be playing a part in this transformation alongside our partners in the 5G Drive programme empowering telecom operators and enterprises enabling the roll out of new services for their users.”
