Operators rethinking security while making rapid progress toward 5G

Mobile service providers say they are making substantial progress toward ushering in a new generation of 5G networks that will enable ultra-high-speed mobile connectivity and a wide variety of new applications and smart infrastructure use cases.

Progress includes steady work toward virtualizing core network functions and a reexamination of the security investments they will need to protect their networks and customers.

COVID-19 is not expected to significantly delay the progress of 5G deployments, according to a global study report, developed by the Business Performance Innovation (BPI) Network, in partnership with A10 Networks.

The percentage of mobile service providers who say their companies are “moving rapidly toward commercial deployment” has increased significantly in the past year, climbing from 26 percent in a survey announced in early 2019 to 45 percent in the new survey. Virtually all respondents say improved security is a critical network requirement and top concern in the 5G era.

Adding standalone 5G

Early 5G networks are being designed in accordance with the already-approved non-standalone 5G standard. However, 30 percent of respondents say they are already proactively planning to add standalone 5G, and another 9 percent say their companies will move directly to standalone.

Standalone 5G will require a whole new network core utilizing a cloud-native, virtualized, service-based architecture. Many respondents, in fact, say they are making significant progress toward network virtualization.

“Our latest study indicates that major mobile carriers around the world are on track with their 5G plans, and more expect to begin commercial build-outs in the coming months,” said Dave Murray, director of thought leadership with the BPI Network.

“While COVID-19 may result in some short-term delays for operators, the pandemic ultimately demonstrates a global need for higher speed, higher capacity 5G networks and the applications and use case they enable.”

Key findings

• 81% say industry progress toward 5G is moving rapidly, mostly in major markets, or is at least in line with expectations.
• 71% expect to begin 5G network build-outs within 18 months, including one-third who have already begun or will do so in 2020.
• 95% percent say virtualizing network functions is important to their 5G plans, and some three-quarters say their companies are either well on their way or making good progress toward virtualization.
• 99% view deployment of mobile edge clouds as an important aspect of 5G networks, with 65% saying they expect edge clouds on their 5G networks within 18 months.

“Mobile operators globally need to proactively prepare for the demands of a new virtualized and secure 5G world,” said Gunter Reiss, worldwide vice president of A10 Networks, a provider of secure application services for mobile operators worldwide.

“That means boosting security at key protection points like the mobile edge, deploying a cloud-native infrastructure, consolidating network functions, leveraging new CI/CD integrations and DevOps automation tools, and moving to an agile and hyperscale service-based architecture as much as possible.

“All of these improvements will pay dividends immediately with existing networks and move carriers closer to their ultimate goals for broader 5G adoption and the roll-out of new and innovative ultra-reliable low-latency use cases.”

Challenges: The security mandate

The industry’s top 5G challenges:

• Heavy cost of build-outs (59%)
• Security of network (57%)
• Need for new technical skills (55%)
• Lack of 5G enabled devices (42%)

Importance of security to 5G:

• 99% rate security as important to their 5G planning, higher than even network reach and coverage or network capacity and throughput
• 97% say increased traffic, connected devices and mission-critical use case significantly increase security and reliability concerns for 5G
• 93% say their security investments are already being affected (52%) or are under review (41%) due to 5G requirements

Top use cases expected to power 5G adoption

Next two years:

• Ultra-high-speed connectivity (81%)
• Industrial automation & smart manufacturing (62%)
• Smart cities (54%)
• Connected vehicles

Next 5 to 6 years:

• Smart cities (62%)
• Ultra-high-speed connectivity (59%)
• Connected Vehicles (57%)
• Industrial automation & smart manufacturing (42%)

“Mobile operators globally need to be proactively preparing for the demands of a new 5G world,” Reiss said.