Intelligent Control in 6G Open RAN: Security Risk or Opportunity?
The Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) framework, emerging as the cornerstone for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Sixth-Generation (6G) mobile networks, heralds a transformative shift in radio access network architecture. As the adoption of Open RAN accelerates, ensuring its security becomes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IEEE
2025-01-01
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| Series: | IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society |
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| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10829659/ |
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| _version_ | 1850149891166175232 |
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| author | Sanaz Soltani Ali Amanloo Mohammad Shojafar Rahim Tafazolli |
| author_facet | Sanaz Soltani Ali Amanloo Mohammad Shojafar Rahim Tafazolli |
| author_sort | Sanaz Soltani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) framework, emerging as the cornerstone for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Sixth-Generation (6G) mobile networks, heralds a transformative shift in radio access network architecture. As the adoption of Open RAN accelerates, ensuring its security becomes critical. The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) plays a central role in Open RAN by improving network efficiency and flexibility. Nevertheless, it also brings about potential security risks that need careful scrutiny. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate the current state of RIC security comprehensively. This assessment is essential to gain a profound understanding of the security considerations associated with RIC. This survey combines a comprehensive analysis of RAN security, tracing its evolution from 2G to 5G, with an in-depth exploration of RIC security, marking the first comprehensive examination of its kind in the literature. Real-world security incidents involving RIC are vividly illustrated, providing practical insights. The study evaluates the security implications of the RIC within the 6G Open RAN context, addressing security vulnerabilities, mitigation strategies, and potential enhancements. It aims to guide stakeholders in the telecom industry toward a secure and dependable telecommunications infrastructure. The article serves as a valuable reference, shedding light on the RIC’s crucial role within the broader network infrastructure and emphasizing security’s paramount importance. This survey also explores the promising security opportunities that the RIC presents for enhancing network security and resilience in the context of 6G mobile networks. It outlines open issues, lessons learned, and future research directions in the domain of intelligent control in 6G Open RAN, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of this dynamic landscape. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1b683738cfb4c6a91a129002069bb2d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2644-125X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1b683738cfb4c6a91a129002069bb2d2025-08-20T02:26:45ZengIEEEIEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society2644-125X2025-01-01684088010.1109/OJCOMS.2025.352621510829659Intelligent Control in 6G Open RAN: Security Risk or Opportunity?Sanaz Soltani0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6724-3969Ali Amanloo1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6408-2509Mohammad Shojafar2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3284-5086Rahim Tafazolli3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6062-86395G/6GIC, Institute for Communication Systems, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.5G/6GIC, Institute for Communication Systems, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.5G/6GIC, Institute for Communication Systems, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.5G/6GIC, Institute for Communication Systems, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.The Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) framework, emerging as the cornerstone for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Sixth-Generation (6G) mobile networks, heralds a transformative shift in radio access network architecture. As the adoption of Open RAN accelerates, ensuring its security becomes critical. The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) plays a central role in Open RAN by improving network efficiency and flexibility. Nevertheless, it also brings about potential security risks that need careful scrutiny. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate the current state of RIC security comprehensively. This assessment is essential to gain a profound understanding of the security considerations associated with RIC. This survey combines a comprehensive analysis of RAN security, tracing its evolution from 2G to 5G, with an in-depth exploration of RIC security, marking the first comprehensive examination of its kind in the literature. Real-world security incidents involving RIC are vividly illustrated, providing practical insights. The study evaluates the security implications of the RIC within the 6G Open RAN context, addressing security vulnerabilities, mitigation strategies, and potential enhancements. It aims to guide stakeholders in the telecom industry toward a secure and dependable telecommunications infrastructure. The article serves as a valuable reference, shedding light on the RIC’s crucial role within the broader network infrastructure and emphasizing security’s paramount importance. This survey also explores the promising security opportunities that the RIC presents for enhancing network security and resilience in the context of 6G mobile networks. It outlines open issues, lessons learned, and future research directions in the domain of intelligent control in 6G Open RAN, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of this dynamic landscape.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10829659/RAN intelligent controller (RIC) securityopen radio access network (Open RAN)6GRAN securityO-RAN |
| spellingShingle | Sanaz Soltani Ali Amanloo Mohammad Shojafar Rahim Tafazolli Intelligent Control in 6G Open RAN: Security Risk or Opportunity? IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society RAN intelligent controller (RIC) security open radio access network (Open RAN) 6G RAN security O-RAN |
| title | Intelligent Control in 6G Open RAN: Security Risk or Opportunity? |
| title_full | Intelligent Control in 6G Open RAN: Security Risk or Opportunity? |
| title_fullStr | Intelligent Control in 6G Open RAN: Security Risk or Opportunity? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intelligent Control in 6G Open RAN: Security Risk or Opportunity? |
| title_short | Intelligent Control in 6G Open RAN: Security Risk or Opportunity? |
| title_sort | intelligent control in 6g open ran security risk or opportunity |
| topic | RAN intelligent controller (RIC) security open radio access network (Open RAN) 6G RAN security O-RAN |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10829659/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sanazsoltani intelligentcontrolin6gopenransecurityriskoropportunity AT aliamanloo intelligentcontrolin6gopenransecurityriskoropportunity AT mohammadshojafar intelligentcontrolin6gopenransecurityriskoropportunity AT rahimtafazolli intelligentcontrolin6gopenransecurityriskoropportunity |