Assurance and Edge Computing in 5G Networks: Synergies and Challenges in the Era of Advanced Connection

The advent of 5G networks has revolutionized wireless communication, offering unprecedented speed, reliability, and capacity. This advancement enables transformative use cases, such as Internet of Things (IoT) applications and satellite-based 5G communication, which extend connectivity into remote and rural areas. However, the increasing complexity of 5G network infrastructures introduces significant challenges in monitoring and securing these networks. This thesis focuses on addressing these challenges by designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive monitoring and security system tailored for 5G networks. The proposed system leverages open-source tools, including Free5GC, Prometheus, and Grafana, to monitor the performance of Network Functions (NFs). Additionally, it integrates an OAuth2 and SIM card-based authentication mechanism to enhance security by providing reliable user and device identity verification. The modifications to Free5GC enable the collection of detailed network metrics, while the authentication system ensures robust protection against unauthorized access. A series of experiments evaluated the system’s performance, scalability, and security. Results demonstrated that the monitoring system introduces minimal resource overhead, with only a modest increase in CPU and memory usage. The authentication mechanism was proven to be secure and effective, significantly enhancing the overall security posture of the 5G network. This thesis proposes solutions to critical challenges in 5G network monitoring and security, offering a scalable and adaptable approach to meet the demands of modern networks. Future work includes developing a high-availability monitoring setup, expanding user equipment (UE) metrics, deploying the system in real-world scenarios, and integrating it with edge computing architectures to ensure optimal performance in distributed environments.