Blockchain in Next Generation Networks (NGNs)
Michael G. Xevgenis, Dimitrios G. Kogias, Helen Catherine Leligou · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · 2025
Next Generation Networks (NGNs) are vital for the operation of demanding applications, such as ultra-low latency, high data rates, high availability, and wide area coverage. The dynamic nature of NGNs, the high-quality standards that must be guaranteed and the high expectations of the end-user make network management a very tricky task. Consequently, the management process of NGNs should not only be characterized by dynamicity and automation; the security and robustness of NGNs should also be enhanced to allow them to deploy new methods to defend against attackers. In the last few years, there has been an increase in the amount of research interest in using blockchain technology in NGNs to exploit blockchain's inherent characteristics. This chapter ocuses on the application of blockchain to NGNs, presents several published research works that explore the use of blockchain technology in these environments, and discusses how this technology could be used to efficiently increase their performance and optimize their management.